Significant investment in big-name players has undoubtedly raised the Saudi Pro League’s profile, particularly within the online gambling industry. Sports betting sites now offer extensive coverage of the SPL, which can be perceived as giving it similar gravitas to other major football leagues worldwide.
This increased exposure has also spilled over into other areas of online gaming, with growing interest across the region in digital entertainment such as slots and table games offered by many betting platforms. As sports betting audiences expand, operators are increasingly presenting a broader portfolio of casino-style options alongside football markets.
The SPL has unquestionably played a key role in driving this wider attention, despite still striving to achieve the global recognition it seeks. Read on as we assess why the SPL is still searching for relevance.
The SPL craves legitimacy
While Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer the force of old, his move to the SPL in 2023 was a landmark moment for football in the Middle East.
Each subsequent new signing from top European leagues felt like a huge achievement, giving the vibe that the balance of power in football could be shifting.
However, leagues are not built on spending sprees - they grow through community and competition that sustain the hype long after the novelty of new signings has worn off.
The SPL is struggling to gain legitimacy because attendances are generally poor, narratives around the league are personality driven and competitive balance is fragile at best.
The league garners headlines on bursts of brilliance from individuals such as Ronaldo. However, the former Real Madrid star’s best days are firmly behind him.
A new-found intent among some SPL clubs to sign players in their peak years suggests they aware of the issue. This is an attempt stop people thinking that the SPL is a retirement destination.
However, some clubs have not read the memo.
Al-Ittihad are failing to read the room
Al-Ittihad’s sizeable investment in new players paid dividends last season as they claimed the SPL title by a considerable distance.
However, they have fallen well off the pace this term as other clubs have leveraged their wealth more effectively in the global transfer market.
Having lost Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante this season, Al-Ittihad have the opportunity to target younger players in the prime.
Despite this, the club has been linked with Mohamed Salah and Casemiro. Both have achieved plenty during their respective careers, but they are well past their best.
In fairness, Salah has a weight of credibility that few players can equal. The pursuit of Casemiro offers similar upside, albeit from a different perspective.
The Egyptian forward would be an attacking threat in the SPL, while Casemiro has the assurance of a player who understands what it means to win at the top level.
Both players make sense as short-term fixes, but they are exactly the type of signings that destroy the idea that the SPL can ever compete with other major leagues.
The SPL must ditch its ‘final payday’ reputation
Many people believe that most players head to the SPL for a final payday. Salah and Casemiro fall squarely into that category.
The league’s organisers reportedly understand the weight of that perception, which is why the next phase of recruitment is so vital. Targeting players in their prime is a necessity.
However, elements such as infrastructure, youth development and a competitive ecosystem that rewards consistency needs to be put in place for this to come to fruition.
Al-Ittihad’s current position offers a cautionary note for the SPL. They spent big on veterans and then paid the price when their legs went. The club is now doubling down with the same policy.
The absence of a leader explains the urgency behind their transfer plans. While Salah and Casemiro are star names, neither will redefine how the league develops.
The SPL will never be anything more than a backwater league if it continues to plough millions of dollars into signing players who are way past their best.
Salah’s staggering drop-off at Liverpool highlights where he now lies in the global football pecking order. Casemiro is no longer the player he once was.
Both players will attract more attention to the SPL, which will provide a useful short-term uptick in the number of people who watch them in action.
However, when they ride off into the sunset with their bank balances bulging at the seams in a couple of years, the SPL will have more sizeable gaps to fill in its landscape.
As the Chinese Super League previously demonstrated, the SPL’s current policy is flawed. The league will head down the same route unless things change.
