The massive spending spree that captured headlines around the world in 2023 may not have materialised this summer, but there is a familiar feel to the Saudi Pro League as the season kicks off on Thursday. Most of the big names are still there; coaches are under pressure before it begins; Al-Hilal are the team to beat; Cristiano Ronaldo is looking annoyed in the colours of Al-Nassr and, once again, pundits are saying that even the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is not bigger than the club.
Ronaldo broke the league record last season with 35 goals, as well as making other headlines, and was last seen at the weekend leaving the pitch as his teammates prepared to collect their runners-up medals in the Saudi Super Cup final. Ronaldo had given Al-Nassr the lead but then watched in growing exasperation as Al-Hilal, the reigning champions, came back to win 4-1. The 39-year-old’s wait for a first trophy since arriving in Riyadh almost two years ago (the Arab Club Champions Cup really does not count) continues.
Even with players such as Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte as fellow Yellows, and plenty of other talent, Al-Nassr do not look ready to finish above Al-Hilal at the moment. The president of the club resigned this week and there have been claims that the head coach, Luís Castro, survives in the job only because of Ronaldo’s protection. Reports of other Saudi clubs ready to pinch unsettled players – the transfer window shuts on 2 September – also does not help.
The league needs Al-Nassr to be at their best. For all the stars on display, the absence of a title race last season was a problem as Al-Hilal took the crown by 14 points. Under another Portuguese manager, Jorge Jesus, they dropped only six points over 34 games and ended with a +78 goal difference.
While the campaign lacked drama, it was one to remember in the blue corner of Riyadh, at least, and a highlight for Salem al-Dawsari, Saudi Arabia’s biggest star and scorer of that winning goal against Argentina at the last World Cup. “The mentality of Al-Hilal players is always very professional,” Dawsari tells the Guardian. “Day by day, throughout last season, we won most competitions and gave our fans what they’ve come to expect from us – except for the AFC Champions League. Our fans are always eager for our victories and, with their support, we promise to continue playing at a high level to deliver good results.”
Even without the injured Neymar – hoping to return next month as he is back in training after injuring a knee ligament while on international duty with Brazil last October – Aleksandar Mitrovic managed to score 28 league goals, with Rúben Neves pulling the strings in midfield. “May God bless Neymar with a healthy return,” Dawsari says. “He will be a big support for our team, and that will also push Saudi players to work harder to reach a higher standard.”
If Al-Nassr can’t get themselves together to trouble Al-Hilal then maybe Al-Ittihad can. The Tigers won the title in 2023, then slumped to fifth last season with Nuno Espírito Santo and then Marcelo Gallardo paying the price for not getting the best out of N’Golo Kanté, Fabinho and the often-injured Karim Benzema. Now Laurent Blanc is in charge – some say because Benzema wanted a fellow Frenchman there – with Moussa Diaby arriving from Aston Villa for around £50m, the biggest signing of the Saudi summer so far.
Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli have lost Allan Saint-Maximin to Turkey but hope that Roberto Firmino, helped by Riyad Mahrez, can step up in a way that he could not quite manage last season. Al-Ettifaq, meanwhile, finished sixth with Steven Gerrard surviving a dip to suggest that this season could be an interesting one. Breaking up the supposed Big Four is no easy task, however. That is also the ambition of Al-Qadsiah, the busiest team in the transfer window so far. Robbie Fowler was the coach in 2023 as the easterners were taken over by Aramco, the country’s state-owned oil company, but did not last long. After promotion, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nacho are among their numerous signings.
In contrast to some of the big moves to China a decade ago, most of the headline-grabbing imports to Saudi Arabia last summer have stayed for a second season. Performances such as Laporte’s at the European Championship showed that the league can offer a decent standard in which star players can operate. Improvements in hardware are needed, however. Ronaldo said as much at the end of his first season. The big two cities of Riyadh and Jeddah apart, the standard and size of stadiums in the country is patchy. Last season, Al-Ettifaq and Al-Shabab opened new boutique arenas. League officials hope that the disappointing average attendance of just over 8,000 last season will be well beaten this time around.
Perhaps not as well beaten as Al-Nassr and Ronaldo were last weekend, though. Saudi fans are becoming used to the tantrums and the goals. At 39, Ronaldo continues to bring fireworks and international attention to the Saudi Pro League, but even that will not be enough to avoid criticism of it if Al Hilal stroll to title number 20.
