Benzema Ignites Controversy and Vinicius Sparks Debate: Is Support Equal Among Saudi Clubs?

Currently, there is significant controversy surrounding the declining appeal of Roshen League clubs in securing world football stars compared to last summer’s transfer market.

The summer transfer window of 2023 was a remarkable success for the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which attracted many big names in the football world after spending massive amounts that caught everyone’s attention.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo opened the door for international football sensations to join the Roshen League when he agreed to sign with Al Nassr in January, following the termination of his contract with Manchester United.

He was joined by several notable players, including Brazilian Neymar da Silva, French players N’Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema, along with Algerian Riyad Mahrez and Senegalese Sadio Mané, before some lucrative deals in the current transfer market fell through.

Dominance and Shocking Departures

Fans from major clubs expressed their outrage over the support program that began last season, mainly due to Al Hilal’s clear dominance in securing impressive signings.

Al Hilal secured a domestic treble, outperforming all clubs, especially Al Nassr, while Al Ittihad struggled without winning any titles and was defeated by Al Hilal seven times.

This led to fans of Al Nassr and Al Ittihad sharply criticizing the recruitment committee of the Public Investment Fund for Al Hilal’s clear superiority in signings.

Anmar Al-Haili, the former president of Al Ittihad, voiced similar sentiments after exiting the King’s Cup semi-finals against Al Hilal, stating: “I have endured a lot and will not remain silent, as the fans criticize me while the fund controls the transfers.”

He continued: “Why isn’t there any statement regarding the support for the clubs? Media figure Mohammed Al-Sheikh claims the support is equal; however, I know nothing about it and am currently forbidden to speak about it.”

His outrage continued: “The support is arbitrary, and Al Ittihad did not receive the same backing as other clubs.”

This sensitive issue ultimately led to Anmar Al-Haili’s departure from his position, despite the significant success he achieved by winning the league and the Super Cup titles in 2022-2023.

Ongoing Contradictions

Criticism of the recruitment committee persisted, raising doubts about the equality of support among clubs, which led to conflicting statements regarding the matter over the past few months.

Saad Al-Lazeez, the interim CEO of the Saudi Professional League and head of the player recruitment program, previously stated that support is equal among top clubs, denying any claims of favoritism.

He pointed out that “the program brought in five players for Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad, and six for Al Ahli,” only to contradict himself in later statements, saying: “The support is not equal due to some debts being settled on behalf of certain clubs instead of providing new support,” in response to accusations directed at the recruitment committee.

He faced heavy public backlash afterward, alongside the legendary Al Ittihad player Mohammed Noor, who believed Al Hilal received more significant support compared to other clubs, contributing to its dominance last season.

Later, the Minister of Sports made a shocking statement that contradicted Al Lazeez’s remarks, saying: “Al Ittihad signed five foreigners, two of whom were from the club’s budget,” implying that the club received support from the investment fund for only three players.

Sudden Decline

All predictions suggested that the Public Investment Fund would continue attracting global players; however, the current transfer market was surprising to everyone, especially due to the withdrawal of support for Al Hilal and Al Nassr.

The Investment Fund’s stance on reducing support for Al Hilal and Al Nassr raises concerns, echoing Al Lazeez’s earlier comments about clubs facing financial crises, which are being addressed instead of focusing on new high-profile signings.

Consequently, both Riyadh clubs might suffer from mounting debts even as they boast a roster of high-paid stars, indicating difficulties in securing significant signings in the current market.

The lack of support for Al Nassr and Al Hilal is highlighted by their association with several high-profile deals, including Belgian Kevin De Bruyne and Brazilian Ederson Moraes of Manchester City, as well as Barcelona’s Raphinha, yet they failed to sign any global stars.

Moreover, Al Nassr finalized two deals in the summer of 2024 by signing Brazilian goalkeeper Bento and local right-back Salem Al-Najdi from Al-Fateh, without any financial backing.

The Impact of Benzema and Vinicius

Benzema reignited the debate over club support after reports indicated that he requested multiple signings during the current summer transfer window, which was acted upon.

Al Ittihad signed French coach Laurent Blanc and Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa for €60 million, Algerian Houssem Aouar from Roma for €12 million, and Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic from Mallorca for €8 million. This sparked controversy due to the club’s perceived financial weakness, suggesting potential support from the investment fund.

Indeed, Al Ittihad president Louay Mashabi confirmed, “The summer signings were supported by the Investment Fund,” leading to unrest due to Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Hilal not securing any major signings.

However, while Al Ahli did not make any acquisitions, reports emerged suggesting that the “Royal” was looking to sign Brazilian Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid for €400 million.

In addition, the player stands to earn over €1 billion in salary and incentives over five years, confirming the Investment Fund’s intention to support Al Ahli.

Considering the overall situation regarding Al Ittihad’s signings, the withdrawal of support from Al Nassr and Al Hilal, combined with the astronomical offer for Vinicius, raises the question: Is support equal among the major clubs?