Why are players going to Saudi Arabia? Explaining reasons behind exodus of stars from Europe
The Saudi Pro League continues to grow in stature as more players follow Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema from Europe to the Middle East.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia in January following his exit at Manchester United, and Benzema has chosen a summer exit from Real Madrid to join Al Ittihad.
Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup winner N'Golo Kante joined French compatriot Benzema at the Saudi champions, and 26-year-old Ruben Neves opt to leave the Premier League after Wolves accepted a £47.2m ($60m) offer from Al Hilal.
However, alongside the growth of star names joining Saudi Arabian clubs, Al Hilal are working on a potentially ground-breaking deal, as they look to prise Kylian Mbappe away from his contract stand off at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Sporting News looks at why players are going to Saudi Arabia instead of staying in Europe.
The transfer of Neves shocked a lot of fans as he was constantly linked with Barcelona and Manchester United. European football is often considered as the pinnacle of the sport at club level, largely due to the UEFA Champions League.
The simple answer as to why players are going to Saudi Arabia is money. Most footballers will retire from the sport in their late thirties, providing they haven't been forced into an early end by injuries. Therefore, maximising their earnings can often be a priority over competing for bigger trophies.
For example, Neves was reportedly earning around £4m ($5.1m) per year with Wolves. He is now set to earn an estimate of £12m ($15.3m) a year at Al Hilal, tripling his salary in Riyadh.
The rumoured deal for Mbappe will reportedly include a base salary of €200m for a one-year contract, if he accepts the offer, ahead of joining Real Madrid for free in 2024.
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