With the Saudi Pro League expected to make another massive splurge on transfers next season, here are four superstars who failed to justify their big moves in 2023/24!
The SPL's incredible spending power had everyone talking at the beginning of the season, with Cristiano Ronaldo having opened the floodgates earlier in the year after he joined Al Nassr to become the world's best-paid star with a salary of £177 million (R4.1 billion) a year, according to Goal.
However, things in Saudi Arabia have not exactly worked out for some stars, including 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.
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Karim Benzema - Al Ittihad
The Frenchman was arguably the SPL's headline signing this season, with his move coming less than a year after he was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball. As many would guess, expectations were high as Benzema was off the back of another incredible campaign with Real Madrid, in which he registered 31 goals and six assists in 43 games. However, the 36-year-old looks nowhere near his best despite dropping to a less competitive league. In addition to his reported off-field issues like going AWOL and missing training, Benzema only has 13 goals in 29 games so far this term. To make matters worse, he was also reported to be desperate to return to Europe, with a report by OK Diario even claiming that he offered himself back to Los Blancos in the January window.
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Roberto Firmino - Al Ahli
The former Liverpool star was trusted to be the leading marksman for Al Ahli, who were promoted from the second tier thanks to South African coach Pitso Mosimane. However, the Brazilian's current goal return of just six strikes in 28 matches leaves very little to be impressed about. After scoring a hat-trick on his Saudi Pro League debut, he went on a six-month goal drought, which was also dampened by the fact that he ended it with a penalty. Firmino also faced pressure from frustrated fans during said drought and was subsequently dropped for seven games in row, and also replaced by Franck Kessie as captain at the time.
Jordan Henderson - Al Ettifaq (later joined Ajax Amsterdam)
The most glaring example of a failed Saudi transfer is that involving former Reds skipper Jordan Henderson. The midfielder drew a lot of criticism from the English press for the decision to sign for Al Ettifaq in the first place, and this seems to have jinxed the move as it lasted an embarrassing four months. The midfielder decided to call it quits in January this year, and it is reported that he was so fed up that he even waived his salary. The England star has since joined Ajax but that too has not exactly been inspiring, with the Dutch giants have won only one of the six Eredivisie games Henderson has played in so far.
Neymar - Al Hilal
Neymar's issue in Saudi is slightly more complicated as he was ruled out for the remainder of the season in October 2023. The Brazilian became the most expensive transfer in Saudi Pro League history when Al Hilal bought him out his Paris Saint-Germain contract in a deal worth €90 million (R1.8 billion) last August. While it is hard to blame him for his injury, it is equally true that Al Hilal are yet to reap the benefits of their big investment in him, with Neymar having played a measly 386 minutes all season.
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