Why Saudi Pro League hasn't developed as Ronaldo expected

Cristiano Ronaldo has previously asserted that the Saudi Pro League will progress and attract even more stars. However, to date, the league hasn't experienced significant growth and, in fact, appears to be regressing. What are the reasons behind this?

Why can't the stars shine in the Saudi Pro League?

#1 LACK OF AUDIENCE

Matches in the Saudi Pro League have very sparse spectators

Despite attracting several stars, the Saudi Pro League faces an issue of low attendance compared to Europe's top 5 leagues. On average, only 8,345 spectators attended a match in the current season, with some games having fewer than 1,000 live viewers.

On October 22, 2023, Al Ettifaq lost to Al Riyadh with a score of 0-1, witnessed by... 696 supporters. Several other matches on the same weekend failed to surpass the 1,000 attendance mark.

#2 LACK OF COMPETITIVE BALANCE

The four largest Saudi Pro League clubs all belong to the same owner

In the summer of 2023, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired the four largest clubs in the country: Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli. Three of them occupy the top four positions in the current season standings.

This ownership has created a gap between the best and worst-performing clubs in the league, and this gap is expected to widen. The lack of competition among the top and bottom teams diminishes the overall quality of the league and makes it challenging to attract attention.

#3 PLAYERS NOT ADAPTING PROPERLY

Many stars cannot adapt to life and football in Saudi Arabia

During the January transfer window, Jordan Henderson left the Saudi Pro League to return to Europe with Ajax. Karim Benzema is also looking to leave, and many other players feel unsuitable for the Saudi Pro League.

Recently, defender Aymeric Laporte admitted to facing difficulties adapting to the new environment in an interview with Spain's AS. He also revealed that many players are becoming disenchanted with life in the Middle East.

#4 STARS FAILING TO MAKE AN IMPACT

Saudi Pro League has many stars, but not many shine

Some of the most famous players in the Saudi Pro League have struggled to make an impact, either due to poor form or injuries.

The most notable example is Neymar Jr, who joined Al Hilal in the summer but suffered an ACL and meniscus injury while on international duty with the Brazilian national team in October. This star is likely to be sidelined until the start of the next season.

Apart from Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrovic consistently scoring, other notable stars like Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, or Roberto Firmino have yet to leave a significant mark.

#5 UNABLE TO ATTRACT TOP-LEVEL PLAYERS

The issues mentioned above have led to the final point: the Saudi Pro League still struggles to attract stars in their prime.

The majority of players who arrive during the summer are stars in the twilight of their careers, seeking a lucrative salary before retiring.

Gabri Veiga is a rare young player who chooses to go to the Saudi Pro League

An exceptional case is Gabri Veiga. The 21-year-old Spanish international made headlines in the summer by rejecting a move to Napoli to play in the Saudi Pro League. However, he has also remained relatively unnoticed.

This further demonstrates that Saudi Arabia is seen by many as a suitable destination for older players rather than young or in-their-prime stars.