Messi, Benzema, Kante & Ronaldo's ASTRONOMICAL Saudi Arabian salaries

Carlo Garganese

• 7 Jun 2023 11:54 BST
• 3 min read

Saudi Arabia is the new place to be for footballers who want to get rich… or let’s say, even richer than they already are.

Earlier this week it was announced that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) had taken ownership of the country's four biggest football clubs; Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

This will be a game-changer in terms of not only Saudi football but club football throughout the world.

READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

PIF own 80 per cent of Premier League club Newcastle United, who until these developments have been recognised as the richest football team in the world.

As a result of PIF’s new venture, the biggest superstars in world football are expected to flock to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are able to pay salaries that even the biggest European teams can only dream of.

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) June 6, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo already moved to the league in January and earns a staggering €200 million per season at Al Nassr.

His great rival Lionel Messi is expected to join him in Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. Messi has an offer on the table from Al-Hilal of an astronomical €400m per year. There have even been reports that Al-Hilal have increased this offer to €1.2 billion over two seasons, €600m a year.

Karim Benzema signed a three year contract with Al Ittihad on a salary worth an incredible €200m a year. He will make €600m during his time at the club.

A fourth star on his way to Saudi Arabia is Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante. The Frenchman is reported to have agreed a two-year contract with Al Ittihad worth €100m a year.

Europe’s biggest-ever salary is €75m a year, which Messi earned at Barcelona. This demonstrates just how much money is on offer for players in Saudi Arabia.

Expect many more superstars to transfer to the league in the coming months and years.