The end of paradise in Saudi Arabia? Players should complain about the weather, the culture and the rights for wives. They’re about to leave

Football in Saudi Arabia experienced a big boom this summer. Several stars have found their way to the Middle East, and logically, they have been paid a luxury salary. But it doesn’t look like it will last long, with several players reportedly unhappy with the conditions there.

The rise of Saudi Arabia

When Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, later winners, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there was a huge euphoria in the country. And a giant hunger for football was unleashed. So one of the richest countries in the Middle East decided to back it up by investing huge amounts of money.

But Saudi Arabia didn’t start lightly, it was the first to take on the biggest marketing face that has ever existed in football. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed athlete on all social media and tops the list among celebrities overall.

In the summer, he was followed by Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Herdenson. The Saudis have promised an increase in the quality of the league that will bring more and more stars. They have even started to discuss with Uefa the possibility of including some of their teams in the Champions League.

But at the moment it doesn’t look like any further rise of Arab football, quite the opposite. Many stars have sacrificed their careers in Europe at the highest level in exchange for a hefty payday. But some of them are already regretting it.

Poor conditions

According to the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, several stars complain about the unpleasant weather, the different culture, the low attendance at stadiums or even the poor treatment and little rights of the footballers’ wives or partners.

The most prominent case is Jordan Henderson, the former Liverpool captain. According to the English media, he complains a lot about the extremely hot and humid climate, the low attendances and the fact that his team is not doing well under Steven Gerrard.

The average crowd at Al-Ettifaq is 5,000, and that is still a good number, with only 600 spectators coming to some matches at rival grounds, roughly similar to some CFL matches.

Henderson is reportedly willing to leave the millions he is owed under his contract in Arabia and return to England. meanwhile, the 33-year-old midfielder currently earns €40 million a year.

Apparently, money can’t buy happiness. In the summer, there could be a large exodus of players from Saudi Arabia and the project to get among the football elite would get a big crack.

Source: Sport, Transfer News