Football clubs in Saudi Arabia spends millions of euros to lure high-profile stars who had been playing big clubs in European top leagues to Saudi Pro League.
The Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad has unveiled the signing of a French international forward Karim Benzema on €400 million contract follows his departure from Real Madrid.
Benzema completed his move to Saudi Arabia just in two days after he played his last match for Real Madrid which plays in the Spanish top-flight and he signed a three-year deal.
His move to Saudi Arabia would give him another chance to play against Cristiano Ronaldo who was his teammate at Real Madrid.
Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr which he joined after terminating his contract with Manchester United after last year's World Cup.
The Frenchman will be wearing jersey number nine when he makes his debut for Al-Ittihad next season.
During his 14-years spent with the Spanish giants he managed to win five Champions Leauges,four La Liga trophies and three Copas del Rey.
He played 648 matches and scored 354 goals for his former club and became the Real's second all-time goalscorer.
According to AL Jazeera,on Monday,the kingdom announced plans to privatise its top football clubs,including Al Ittihad,in a move that will allow companies and development agencies to invest and take over.
Al Jazeera added that the move is aimed at increasing the revenue of the Saudi Pro League to 1.8 billion riyals($480m) annually by 2030.
Another Frenchman N'Golo Kante is expected to join his countryman in the Saudi after his contract with Chelsea was not renewed and he arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2016.
Kante is also lured to the Saudi Pro League by Al Ittihad and has been offered a two-year deal worth close to $pound;86m a year.