Riyadh, the new stronghold of world football that explodes all spending records

On December 18, all eyes were on Doha. It was there that the final of the 2022 World Cup won by Argentina took place. A month later, Qatar handed over to Saudi Arabia, as all eyes are now on Riyadh. In recent weeks, the Saudi capital has become the stronghold of world football. But in reality, Saudi Arabia has been active behind the scenes for months, even years. As early as 2016, the country embarked on the “Saudi Vision 2030” project under the impetus of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who had obtained the green light from his father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, recently recalled the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr, the masterstroke

The objective is to organize the 2030 World Cup, possibly in collaboration with Greece and Egypt. With this in mind, Saudi Arabia wants to have more visibility and support. In May 2022, the country therefore recruited Lionel Messi as a tourism ambassador. If the amounts have not filtered, the Argentinian is handsomely rewarded for this mission. A few months later, on December 30, the Gulf country struck an even bigger blow by getting their hands on Cristiano Ronaldo. Free since leaving Manchester United, the Portuguese said yes to Al Nassr. Courted by Al-Hilal last summer, he finally joined the rival club this winter.

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To achieve this, Al Nassr offered the player a salary of 200 million euros until 2025. And the former Real Madrid will have a nice extension thereafter since he will officiate as an ambassador. More than a player, Al Nassr has recruited a symbol. A star to attract media and supporters from all over the world. Since his arrival, CR7 has boosted the club’s social networks but also the sales of jerseys, since the tunic flocked to his name, sold for 115.60 euros, is out of stock. Several countries are also trying to buy the broadcasting rights of the Saudi Pro League in order to broadcast the matches in Europe or elsewhere in the world. His presentation to the public was followed around the world.

The Clasico in the Spanish Supercup, the spotlight

Last week, images of him visiting Real Madrid, present for the Supercopa de España, shone a spotlight on the country. A country that intends to attract other stars into its nets. Last week, the Saudi press and Mundo Deportivo spoke of a €300m per season bid from Al Hilal for Lionel Messi. Al Nassr, for his part, would have approached several players including Sergio Ramos (PSG), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona) or Eden Hazard (Real Madrid). This week, the Iberian press announced that Keylor Navas (PSG) had been hit on by the CR7 club. In addition to the players, Saudi Arabia has also got its hands on the organization of important events.

During this month of January, the country has already hosted the Spanish Super Cup. A competition organized since 2020 in Saudi Arabia and which brings in at least €35 million to the Royal Spanish Football Federation for each of the 4 editions. But the jackpot can increase by 5 M€, or 40 M€, if the final opposes Real Madrid to FC Barcelona. Which was the case this year 2023. The Culés were crowned on Sunday (3 to 1 victory) and pocketed €4.8 million (€2.8 million for the participation and €2 million for the final success). ). The Merengues won €3.8m (€2.8m for participation and €1m for their place as finalists). Valencia (€1.7m) and Betis (€750,000), present in the final four, were also paid.

The Italian Super Cup, the stroke of poker

It should be noted that the Spanish federation pays a large part of the sum affected to professional football (20 M€) and gives a commission of 4 M€ to Kosmos, the company of Gerard Piqué which negotiated the deal with Arabia. Arabia. His box would also have received 24M€ to transfer the Spanish Super Cup to the Gulf. Saudi Arabia also pulled out the checkbook to host the Italian Super Cup final. Since 2019, the Gulf country has secured an agreement to host three of the competition’s five finals. Which was not necessarily well received at the time in Italy. Now it has become “normal” to manage this match. The Italian press mentioned an amount of 8 million euros for each edition organized. But the various parties are discussing a new agreement.

This time, the specialist magazine Milano Finance speaks of an amount of €138 million to manage the six editions of the Italian Super Cup between 2023 and 2029, i.e. €23 million net per year. The Italian football league should therefore pocket this amount this evening during the final which will oppose Inter Milan to AC Milan this evening at 8 p.m. A poster that will be broadcast in 165 countries around the world (France is not one of them). Something to shine the spotlight on the Saudi state again. And what about the gala match organized tomorrow between the Paris Saint-Germain of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar and a selection of players playing at Al Hilal and Al Nassr. A shock that will be followed around the world and in front of a sold-out stadium since the tickets sold like hot cakes.

The Messi-CR7 shock, the publicity stunt

Moreover, a spectator, a certain Mushref al-Ghamdi who is a wealthy Saudi real estate magnate; paid 2.6 million euros to buy a premium ticket allowing him to attend the award ceremony for the winner after the match and then enter the locker room. The opportunity to meet Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be part of the selection of Saudi clubs. Because more than an exhibition match, this poster will oppose the two stars of world football certainly for the last time. And it is in Saudi Arabia that this planetary event will take place. To have this exclusivity, the Gulf country has generously paid PSG, which will pocket a little more than 10 million euros for this evening placed in the middle of the week and in the middle of an already busy season.

A timing that has also cringe behind the scenes in Paris. But PSG has decided to respond favorably to this invitation and this great offer. It’s hard to resist the millions offered by Saudi Arabia, which has hosted almost as many stars on its soil in a week as Qatar for a month. Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Rafael Leão, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos or Cristiano Ronaldo, all have played or will play at the King Fadh International Stadium in Riyadh. The best advertising for a country that wants more than ever to organize the 2030 World Cup and become one of the strongholds of football. Saudi Arabia is on track to succeed in its bet.