• Cristiano Ronaldo "I'm happy here and I want to continue"
  • Karim Benzema Closer to Madrid than Arabia

The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo and the recent multimillion-dollar offers for other big stars such as Karim Benzema have turned Saudi Arabia in record time into a great threat to the traditional big leagues.

Yasser Al-Misehal is the president of the country's Football Federation and assures in an interview with EL MUNDO that we are only at the beginning of a firm commitment to turn his competition into a world reference.

In this sense, he does not hide that his great desire would be to incorporate the Argentine Leo Messi into the competition, who yesterday played his last game with PSG and is negotiating his new destination with the Saudi possibility on the table.

"We are working to increase football fans across the Kingdom and welcome new fans, to increase interest and develop national football at all levels," he explains. "More than 2.6 million people under the age of 30 play football and 80% of the population plays, watches and attends matches." "We want the Saudi Pro League (SPO) to become more exciting and competitive, interest grows, and the league to be more attractive to our fans and those around the world." Therefore, he adds, the signing of great world stars has become one of his main objectives.

THE CHRISTIAN IMPACT

"Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al Nassr has brought immense value to the SPL and Saudi football. His presentation filled the stadiums and when he arrived 28,000 fans turned out for the club's next home game, despite his absence.

"He has inspired millions of boys and girls in the country, which may give rise to a new generation of football talent in the future." "His arrival has supported our strategy to generate interest and increase participation, thanks to his profile and his status as an icon."

In this sense, he downplays the importance of the obscene gestures that he carried out recently and that caused a huge controversy in the country after losing 2-0 to Al-Hilal. "Al Nassr has already addressed this matter and no further comment is necessary."

"Ronaldo is a role model, with a strong record of professionalism, and is well aware of his obligations on and off the field, like all SPL players. Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia has had a positive impact on the Kingdom's football. We have seen the number and diversity of emerging local talent, fans and supporters of the SPL grow."

Cristiano Ronaldo, during his presentation with Al-Nassr.AFP

In the same vein, he does not hide his desire to have his historical competitor in one of the clubs of the competition. "Messi is a wonderful player and a football legend. Any league would welcome his arrival and, as a football fan, I would be delighted, of course, that one day he would play in Saudi Arabia."

"Once the decisions are made, the competent authorities will make the official announcements in due course," he says, while transferring the responsibility for future signings to the different clubs.

200,000 LICENSES

"By 2025 we aim to increase the number of male players registered from 21,000 to more than 200,000. Also that the investment for the development of the quarry goes from 28 to 50 million, "continues Al-Misehal.

At the same time, he emphasizes that, together with the incorporation of great players in the twilight of his career, the great challenge is to do the same with top-level players who are in their sporting prime.

"Seeing great young stars play in our leagues is one of our main aspirations and we believe it can be realised through our strategy to improve football." "As our leagues become more competitive and attractive, the time will come when young global talent will take notice of us," ventures the head of Saudi football.

In the last two years we have built 700 new grassroots football pitches

"Right now, our goal is to provide the right infrastructure and development platforms for national talents to become the best young stars in the world and play in Saudi Arabia," he adds.

"In the last two years alone we have built 700 new grassroots football pitches, youth football funding has increased by 162% and the number of coaches and players registered has increased by 298% and 58%, respectively," he adds, highlighting the growth of football in the Persian Gulf.

SPANISH SUPER CUP

In another order of things he is satisfied with the experience of hosting the Spanish Super Cup in his country despite the scandal unleashed by the commissions paid to the former Barça player, Gerard Piqué.

"Hosting events such as the Spanish Super Cup has helped Saudi Arabia establish itself as a vibrant sporting hub on the regional and international stages. In the 2020 Super Cup, 158,000 fans attended three matches in Jeddah. We built on this success to celebrate the next two editions in Riyadh, the last of which attracted more than 146,000 fans in three matches. These figures demonstrate our passion for football. We hope to organize more Spanish Super Cups."

Pique? Our direct relationship is with the Spanish Federation

As for Pique's efforts to bring the competition to Saudi Arabia, Al-Misehal does not want to comment. "Our direct relationship is with the Spanish Football Federation. Any other questions about it are better directed to them, "he says.

"Football is the number one passion in Saudi Arabia. As I said, more than 80% of our country plays, watches and attends matches. Interest is growing as we continue to invest at all levels, from grassroots to professional. The World Cup in Qatar showed that interest and our team's victory over Argentina was one of the highlights of the tournament."

  • Leo Messi
  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Spanish Super Cup
  • Gerard Piqué
  • Karim Benzema

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