Top Agent Warns European Leagues of Players' Exodus to Saudi Arabia While at Their Peak

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(Photo : AFP via Getty Images) Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Raed at the al-Awwal Park Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on April 28, 2023. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

A leading football agent in Europe warned that many clubs might lose their star power if the transfer of players while at their peak years in Saudi Arabia continues.

The leading agent made the comment after one of his clients was being courted by one of the Saudi clubs. He thinks this is not improbable since the Arabian clubs can offer money that is just hard to resist.

Nobody bats an eye on football superstars moving to "weaker leagues" at the end of their careers.

However, it might be a different story if a player from one of the top European leagues decides to move where the competition is weaker. The clubs might be unable to do anything about this since compensation is the issue.

Read more: N'golo Kante to join CR7 in Saudi soon

"What is happening is that the likes of myself are being sounded out instead of the clubs in the knowledge that astronomical salaries would tempt any player," the agent was quoted as saying by the English paper The Mirror.

"It's got to be a concern in the long term for the European Leagues especially with UEFA discussing a possible wage cap for clubs which obviously wouldn't be in the interest of the players."

Big Names, Big Pay Day

The latest fish to be caught by rich clubs from the Arabian region is 2022 Ballon D'or winner Karim Benzema who will sign with Al-Ittihad for a reported pay of $643 million for three years.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the superstar to move into the Asian league and joined Al Nassr FC for a reported salary of $75 million per year.

Lionel Messi was targeted, too, by Al Hilal, for half a billion worth of contract, but the Argentine superstar decided to go to Inter Miami instead.

Related article: Giannis Reacts to Messi, Benzema, and Ronaldo transfer news

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