A Saudi Pro League-based African star has insisted that footballers play in the Middle East country for money, not passion.
It is no secret that the Saudis’ deep pockets have been a huge motivator for some players to move to the country.
One of Al Hilal’s new recruits, Ruben Neves, recently admitted that he joined the club largely due to the fact that it would help him take care of his family financially, something a club like FC Barcelona – who were interested in signing him – was unable to offer to such a large scale.
Many of the new arrivals in the SPL are now earning exorbitant sums of cash, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante among the highest-paid players in the league.
Al Hilal have also made an attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe, having offered him a record-breaking deal, but it is understood the Frenchman has since refused to consider it.
Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo, who is currently clubless after leaving Al Hilal last month, has now claimed that players do not move to Saudi Arabia for footballing reasons.
According to ESPN, the Nigeria international said of playing in the Gulf state: “When you are young, yes, you play for passion. Back then, you don’t care about money. But at my age, I am in the final stretch of my career, I don’t know if it will be one, two years or when God will tell it to stop.
“I know it won’t be more than three years. I’ve played for passion all my life, now it’s for money. I’m not one of those players who come and say: ‘I play for passion’. Brother, it’s money. At the end of the day, it’s money.
“Is Ronaldo still playing out of passion? Ronaldo has earned 100 times more than I have in my entire life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. Did he do that out of passion? It’s for money, bro.”
The player also recently explained why he was released by Al Hilal following the expiry of his deal, insisting that Lionel Messi played a role.
Ighalo told OmaSportsTV: “I’m shocked Messi didn’t go to Saudi Arabia because it was part of why my contract was not being extended.
“I thought it was a done deal. The money they were offering him in Saudi was crazy. He was going to earn twice what [Cristiano] Ronaldo was earning.
“I was shocked he didn’t go there. He chose Miami.”
