Saudi Pro League has the big stars – now it has to hope the fervour follows

Lavish spending has generated hype and controversy, but how will this project play out once the season starts? A video billboard in Jeddah welcomes those heading into the city along the airport road with a glowing portrait of Saudi Pro League stars, Cristiano Ronaldo still dead centre in the spotlight. Last Sunday, King Abdullah Sports City hosted a high-production value launch event with rappers, glitter and a lot of fans taking photographs. Elsewhere, however, it is difficult to detect much Pro League fever as Saudi Arabia prepares for Friday night’s big kick-off. This may have something to do with the heat; daytime temperatures are currently approaching 40C in Saudi Arabia’s second city and are far higher in Dammam, where Jordan Henderson, under his Al-Ettifaq manager, Steven Gerrard, is set to make his debut against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the opening round’s standout fixture on Monday night. Continue reading...

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