Mega-money stars in Saudi Arabia hating every minute of lucrative transfers and want to go home months after moving
SAUDI ARABIA has every right to be feeling pleased with itself in terms of football but a few bumps in the road are approaching.
The Middle East nation turned the sport on its head with crazy transfer deals to give the Saudi Pro League extra profile.
GettyJordan Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq in the summer from Liverpool[/caption]
And the Saudis are certain to land the 2034 World Cup — which means another winter tournament.
There are claims the country is football mad but the stats do not add up.
They also face the embarrassing situation of some players — and managers — now wanting to go home.
SunSport understands a number of stars who moved to Saudi Arabia are massively regretting doing so. Some are hating every minute.
The big problem is whether they are able to return before the end of their contracts, which in many cases are two years.
And equally, despite Saudi Arabia being a nation of 37million people, attendances for games are not great.
Jordan Henderson’s Al-Ettifaq team — managed by Steven Gerrard — played in front of 9,827 when they lost 2-1 to Slaven Bilic’s Al-Fateh last Thursday.
Their previous home crowd was 4,867 but last month just 976 fans watched their 3-1 win at Abha Club.
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Fabinho’s Al-Ittihad are the best supported with 29,000 crowds — but in the 18-team league, 11 of the clubs average under 5,000 and two of them under 2,000.
Ultimately, though, the Saudis’ sportswashing will continue regardless of the low gates, players leaving and the fact many people are opposed to a World Cup back in the Middle East.
And yet we all know Australia would do a much better job as tournament hosts.
PRICEY FOR ONE STOPJE
SPORTSWORLD are official partners to the FA but they have yet to put on any flights for England fans to any of the qualifiers in 2023.
The one to Naples for the March qualifier against Italy was scrapped at the last minute, while there were no organised trips to Malta in June or Poland for last month’s game against Ukraine.
The November 20 tie against North Macedonia in Skopje is a logistically difficult one and some fans are even flying to Pristina in Kosovo and then hiring cars.
Sportsworld are putting on a one-day trip to the Tose Proeski Arena but at a cost — £389.
GUNNER GONE
ARSENAL have lost commercial player services manager Dan Tilley to the FA.
He has become England’s player relations lead and replaced Lewis Maddison, who has gone to work with Jude and Jobe Bellingham.
HARRY’S PAIN
IT seems Erik ten Hag would rather play anyone other than Harry Maguire.
Only injuries meant he returned for Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
But United have won 14 of the defender’s 18 starts under Ten Hag.
GettyHarry Maguire has started two games this season[/caption]
