Barcelona President takes a huge dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and others for moving to Saudi, says they didn’t go for ‘sporting reasons’

Joan Laporta shares his feelings about the Saudi League with the media.

Barcelona President takes a huge dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and others for moving to Saudi, says they didn’t go for ‘sporting reasons’

(L) Joan Laporta (R) Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema (Source: Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s move to the Middle East has sparked a significant power shift in the game, with players like Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves, and N’Golo Kante following suit, and even his former teammate and Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema joining the Saudi Pro League. This is signaling a trend of attracting some of the world’s biggest football stars to the region.

The rise of Asian football has been widely acknowledged and accepted by fans globally, particularly after the successful World Cup. But it has also faced criticism, with Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta being vocal about the league’s approach of enticing players with lucrative contracts, which he ironically pointed out mirrored the club’s own strategy in the early 2010s.

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Joan Laporta‘s outspoken personality and media-savvy approach were evident in his efforts to refocus attention on La Liga and its pool of world-class talents. Understanding the league’s value, he didn’t hold back in highlighting its strengths to reclaim the spotlight.

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However, he was also aware of the challenges faced by La Liga, particularly regarding the incidents of hostility towards players of color, which had a negative impact on the league’s image and could have potentially affected its financial standing.


In conclusion, the Saudi Pro League has certainly attracted attention by signing some of the world’s biggest football stars, but its long-term success and potential sustainability will only be determined in the coming years.

The comparisons to the Chinese Super League, which initially made big splashes in the football world but later faced challenges and financial difficulties, raise questions about whether the Saudi League can achieve a similar level of success.

Related: Lionel Messi remembers struggles at Barcelona and Argentina after receiving Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia: A boom for their football culture

Ronaldo during an interview in Saudi Arabia
Ronaldo during an interview in Saudi (Source: Al Jazeera)

From causing a stock market loss to Coca-Cola to influencing millions on social media, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the game’s most powerful personalities. His move to Al-Nassr resulted in a massive outreach to the global public, with his jerseys becoming popular even in far-flung places like Indian streets.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival, the Saudi Pro League has experienced significant benefits, witnessing remarkable growth and fostering a thriving football culture in the Middle East. Despite the intricacies of the business side, the league remains proactive, constantly making strategic moves to position itself prominently on the global stage.

With Ronaldo’s career probably in its last stage, will we see him hang up his boots in Saudi, or a move somewhere else could be in the books? Only time will tell.

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