In a surprising turn of events, Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez has officially made the leap to the Saudi Pro League side, Al Ahli. The move marks another high-profile signing in the Gulf state’s cash-rich league, raising eyebrows and drawing attention to the controversial allure of Saudi Arabia for prominent football stars.
The 32-year-old Algerian winger, who joined Manchester City in 2018 under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, has been an instrumental part of the team’s success, securing 11 major trophies during his tenure at the club.
With a reported fee of up to £30 million ($38.6 million), City struck a deal with Al Ahli last week to secure Mahrez’s services in the Saudi league.
Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, Mahrez expressed his gratitude and pride in playing for the club, cherishing the opportunity to win trophies and enjoy his football. He praised the incredible players, the devoted supporters, and what he deemed “the best manager in the world.”
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, lauded Mahrez’s exceptional skill and technique, acknowledging the winger’s significant impact on the team. Despite the accolades, his departure leaves a void, and City’s fans will undoubtedly miss the brilliance he brought to the field.
The trend of prominent players flocking to the Saudi Pro League has been increasingly evident, with high-profile names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and others making their way to Saudi Arabia this summer.
However, as the league attracts international talent, concerns surrounding “sportswashing” grow stronger. Critics argue that the lavish spending on sport is an attempt by Saudi Arabia to divert attention from its record on human rights issues, such as the execution of 81 people in a single day last year, the outlawing of homosexuality, and the infamous murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Amidst the glitz and glamour of these signings, the questions remain: should the allure of the Saudi league outweigh the concerns about human rights violations in the country? Can football and sports be divorced from politics and morality?
As the Premier League loses yet another star to the Saudi top flight, football fans and critics alike ponder the implications of these moves on the sport’s reputation and the responsibility of players and clubs in shaping the global perception of football’s moral compass.
In the end, it remains to be seen whether the Saudi Pro League’s attraction to big-name players will continue to overshadow the mounting criticism surrounding human rights in the conservative monarchy. As the world watches the developments in Saudi Arabia, the controversy surrounding the league’s high-profile signings will undoubtedly be a topic of fervent debate and discussion in the football community.
