A list containing the names of more than ten football stars wanted by clubs from Saudi Arabia has been drawn up, and Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema are at the top of the list, a source close to the negotiations told France Press today.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Benzema will sign a two-year contract with Al-Ittihad.
Luka Modric, Igo Ljoris, Sergio Ramos, Giordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Ngolo Kante, Angel di Maria and Roberto Firmino are among the mentioned "targets", added the same source.
The source said that the Saudi authorities "are in contact with more than ten players, many of whom have won the World Cup or the Champions League, to move to Saudi Arabia next season."
"In addition to receiving fairly lucrative offers, they will be playing in a very competitive league," the source claimed, adding that the goal is to have most of the deals completed before the start of the next season on August 11.
A Saudi government official also told AFP that authorities were negotiating with "world-class players".
"The aim is to build a very strong and competitive league and raise the level of Saudi clubs," he said.
As for Messi and Benzema, Saudi officials are in Paris and Madrid trying to make deals, according to multiple sources and media reports.
Until today, the biggest "target" that Saudi Arabia realized was the engagement of Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed for the Al Nasr club at the end of December. According to unconfirmed information, the Portuguese reportedly currently earns the highest salary in the history of sports, around 200 million euros per season.
The same amount is mentioned by the Spanish press when it comes to Benzema's transfer to Al Ittihad, while in the case of Messi and his eventual signing for Al Hilal, an even higher sum is mentioned.
All the targeted players are big football stars who are nearing the end of their careers. With the exception of Lloris, who has one year left on his contract with Tottenham, everyone else is out of contract.
Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, is trying to use sports to improve its image associated with rigorous Islam and to attract tourists and investment.
The world's largest oil exporter has already spent hundreds of millions on sports contracts, to bring Ronaldo, but also to organize the Formula One race. All these initiatives have led to accusations that Saudi Arabia wants to "wash" its record of human rights violations through sports.
Bonus video:
