Not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo. While the five-time Ballon d’Or is having a blast in Saudi Arabia where he continues to panic the scorers by setting up goal after goal despite his 38 years, not all the stars who have arrived in recent months in the Saudi Pro League are having the same experience. And that’s an understatement. Some have even fallen from a height, to the point of already wanting an express return to less exotic lands.
Obviously, money doesn’t always buy happiness in the football world. Despite the millions spent to attract them, some headliners quickly became disillusioned during the first months of their stay in Saudi Arabia. In recent days, rumors have been swirling about the possible departures of certain nice summer catches from the Saudi Government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which has given itself the means to strengthen the top names in the Saudi Pro League.
Henderson quickly became disillusioned
The former leader of RC Lens, Seko Fofana, would not be against the idea of a change of scenery. And if Al-Nassr does not intend to part with it, it is still mentioned in Turkey, particularly recently. But it is above all the names of two players whose departures last summer caused talk which remind us that a career is also a question of thoughtful choices: we are talking about Roberto Firmino and especially Jordan Henderson.
According to the British press, the two former Liverpool executives would be keen to take advantage of the winter to leave and return to safe values. Jordan Henderson, who had advocated his desire to “build a club and a championship” upon his departure, would be particularly “desperate” according to the Mail which released the information this weekend before seeing the Times and The Telegraph confirm it. The reasons for these reversals are obviously multiple.
Roberto Firmino
Credit: Getty Images
Sporting reasons, family difficulties…
There are already sporting frustrations. Author of a hat-trick for his first with Al-Ahli, Firmino has for example been under fire for many weeks while he has been silent since his first with fanfare, 16 matches in a row. For Henderson who sees El-Ettifaq vegetating in the soft underbelly of the championship (8th), The Athletic recalls that he had difficulty with the drop in level of play. But the athlete does not explain everything. The local context, between the heat and stricter living conditions, also weighs on the mentality of some exiles. Henderson thus saw his family have problems adapting to Saudi life, which often comes up in the difficulties encountered by foreign players arriving in Saudi Arabia where they come into contact with a conservative regime.
The disillusionment of these two renowned stars is obviously the subject of much anger among those who criticized their summer choice. But while waiting to know if they will find a way out in the coming weeks, Saudi Arabia does not necessarily look like a very peaceful golden retreat for the various foreigners who arrived during the transfer window, which had made the effect of an earthquake on the football planet.
Jordan Henderson reacts after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad at Al Ettifaq Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Al Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Credit: Getty Images
The recruits “did not achieve the expected results”
If Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson do not hide their fed up and may be the tip of the iceberg, other exiled players are not living a fairy tale. Despite his nine goals in 15 league matches, Karim Benzema is not spared by the press and Al Ittihad supporters. “Benzema let the team down in big matches,” Amir, a fan, complained to AFP at the end of December. “He’s the captain of the team, but he doesn’t give the impression of being the leader of the team. He seems misguided like he’s in another world.” And if the 2022 Ballon d’Or is experiencing a situation as frustrating as it is surprising given his status, his teammates N’Golo Kanté and the Brazilian Fabinho are also not spared. The new recruits “did not achieve the expected results”, admitted a source close to the club, after the 5-2 slap against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
The Saudi option therefore does not only make people happy. And it is not the information from the Spanish daily As last Saturday that will reassure the disgruntled exiles. According to the sports newspaper, the PIF has decided to no longer spend as much to strengthen the four major Saudi clubs during this winter window, suggesting that purchases of stars will be fewer. Enough to further frustrate certain exiles, who hoped to see the Saudi Pro League continue its spectacular progress. But don’t expect a mass exodus from the Saudi Pro League in the coming weeks. Some have also found their account there.
2024-01-09 22:46:11
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