The Saudi Pro League continues to pursue big names in world soccer, as rumors of clubs showing interest in the likes of Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, and Lionel Messi keep emerging.
The Saudi League successfully brought in one of the all time great soccer players, five times Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, at the beginning of this year. This signing has bolstered the Saudi Pro League’s position in world soccer, with Cristiano Ronaldo slowly becoming the face of the league.
They don’t seem to be quite content just yet, and they believe CR7’s signing has opened up the way for them to bring in even more big players. Among them is the seven time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, as well as Real Madrid stars Karim Benzema and Luka Modric.
Kaku, a 28-year old Paraguayan international playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Taaowun, has expressed his enthusiasm about big names being connected to the league. In an interview with FourFourTwo, Kaku said: “We heard the talk about Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi. The league is growing by leaps and bounds, and that makes it more attractive.”
well then Karim Benzema is the Greatest ST of this generation and Luka Modric is the Greatest Midfielder of all time. https://t.co/SlAWAE61Uk pic.twitter.com/P0oOTkwDBm
— 𝙨𝙫𝟑 (@Saweezyy) May 9, 2023
He then reflected on how big players coming to the league can lead to self-improvement: “Bringing in big-name players is an important detail that will only improve things, and I feel it can push me on to become one of the best in the league, too. It’s my desire to reach Europe – now, by playing well here, I think I can have my chance.”
Sports journalist believes Lionel Messi playing in the Saudi League “would be the dream”
Having soccer superstars play in Saudi Arabia is something every Saudi Arabian wants as well. Sports journalist Khaled-Al-Arafah told FourFourTwo that having Lionel Messi play in the Saudi League “would be the dream.”
He then continued to reflect on the Saudi League XI vs. Paris Saint-Germain exhibition match held back in January, where Messi and CR7 faced each other: “It was an amazing moment to have both players on the pitch in Saudi Arabia in January—hopefully one day they’ll face each other officially in our domestic league. But even if it’s not Messi, I’m 99 percent sure you’ll see more outstanding stars in the Saudi Pro League at the start of next season.”
Lionel Messi has been heavily linked with Al-Hilal in recent times, with the Saudi club offering him a deal worth an outstanding €400 million a year. The 2022 World Cup winning captain will be reaching the end of his contract with PSG in June, and given all the current escalations between the club and the player, we may indeed see Leo playing in the Middle-East next season.
