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| A lecturer of International Relations study program of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Hafid Adim Pradana, MA (Photo: Special) |
Saudi Arabian football clubs have been on overdrive during this season's transfer window. The arrival of two of the world's best players, Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) and Karim Benzema. Followed by famous stars like Neymar and Sadio Mane. Is Saudi Arabia about to shift the dominance of European football?
Hafid Adim Pradana, a lecturer in the International Relations study program at Muhammadiyah University of Malang (UMM), also responded to the phenomenon through the perspective of international relations studies. "Saudi Arabia's step in bringing in star players like Ronaldo, Benzema and Neymar clearly benefits Saudi Arabia's entertainment business in soccer," he said.
The transfer of star players to the Saudi Arabian Professional League invites various arguments from many people. Some assume their move is due to the Ronaldo effect, and others think it is because of the money effect.
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"Regarding the number of audience of the Saudi Arabian Professional League, the assumption of the Ronaldo effect is very reasonable. The impact brought by CR7 is enormous. All eyes will automatically be on him. However, for the transfer of the other players to the league, the money effect is more reasonable," he added.
Undeniably, the nominal money Saudi Arabian Professional League clubs offer is considerable. Of course, the offer is hard to refuse by players who are generally at the end of the productive age of soccer players. " Let's look at Brazil as an example. Most of the players who come from the country of Joga Bonito come from the lower middle class. Thus, their orientation towards football is clear: to change the fate of their families in their home country," he said.
Furthermore, Adam explained that this sudden transfer movement is one of the signs of the Saudi Arabian League's probability of shifting the dominance of Europe as a football center. However, the effect cannot be seen shortly. Similar to the development of science, the shift can be seen in the next tens to hundreds of years.
Regarding this, there is also a close relationship between these player transfers and Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision Program. The sudden transfer of players is considered a diplomatic move by Saudi Arabia to utilize the huge potential of soccer in all corners of the world. (Put/*/Wil)
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