The rumors circulating during the last winter transfer window regarding the potential transfer of French star Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to their arch-rivals Al-Hilal sparked widespread debate in Saudi and international sporting circles. Amidst these speculations, Al-Hilal's management clarified their philosophy regarding the signing of international stars, emphasizing that sporting objectives always take precedence.
In statements attributed to Al-Hilal's CEO, Spaniard Steve Calzada, to the Spanish network AS, it was emphasized that any high-profile signing, such as acquiring a player of Karim Benzema's caliber, a Ballon d'Or winner, cannot be merely a commercial move. Calzada explained, "The media impact and commercial exposure that a global star brings is amazing and welcome, but it remains a secondary result of the primary objective." He added, "None of the signings we've made have been purely commercial; they have always been purely sporting decisions based on the technical department's request to strengthen the team with a world-class striker, and the results we've achieved on the pitch are the best proof of the validity of this approach.".
General context: A revolution in the Saudi League
These rumors come amidst a historic transformation underway in the Saudi Professional League. Since the arrival of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in late 2012, the league has been flooded with international stars. Supported by the sports club investment and privatization project, top clubs like Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli have successfully attracted big names such as Neymar Jr., Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, and of course, Karim Benzema, raising the league's technical and marketing value to unprecedented levels and making it a global focus of attention.
The importance of the deal and its expected impact
Had Benzema's transfer to Al-Hilal gone through, it would have been a seismic shift in the domestic league landscape. Adding a lethal striker of Benzema's caliber to Al-Hilal's already formidable attacking arsenal, which already included Aleksandar Mitrovic, Neymar, and Malcom, would have given the "Leaders" an unstoppable force. Conversely, it would have directly weakened one of their main title rivals, Al-Ittihad. Regionally, the deal would have boosted Al-Hilal's chances in the AFC Champions League, while internationally, it would have solidified the image of the Saudi league as a powerful force capable not only of attracting stars from Europe but also of facilitating major transfers between its domestic clubs, reflecting the financial strength and high competitiveness of the Saudi sports project.
