Spotlight on Karim Benzema and other Saudi star signings at King Salman Cup

Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad will look to impose their new-found status as regional heavyweights

Karim Benzema will make his competitive debut for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia this week. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Football fans across the world will turn their attention towards the south-west of Saudi Arabia as 16 of the best clubs in the region compete for the King Salman Cup, which will take place in the mountain cities of Taif, Abha and Al Baha starting this week.

Reigning champions Raja Casablanca are joined by arch rivals and CAF Champions League runners-up Wydad, while the UAE will be represented by Abu Dhabi side Al Wahda. But all eyes will be on the domestic trio of Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad who come into the competition on the back of record spending following their acquisition by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF.

Al Hilal, runners-up in 2019 when they lost to Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel in the final in Al Ain, get their campaign under way on Thursday against Libyan side Al Ahli Tripoli in Abha. They have bolstered their ranks with two of the best midfielders in Europe in Serbian international Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio and Portugal’s Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The pair were introduced to the home fans on Sunday in a friendly against fellow King Salman Cup participants Kuwait SC, with both getting on the scoresheet in a 4-2 victory. Coach Jorge Jesus’s side also recruited Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea to marshal their defence.

And while supporters will get a first look at the trio in competitive action, the tournament comes too soon for their attacking additions, with the Riyadh club reportedly close to completing deals for Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic and Zenit Saint Petersburg winger Malcom.

In recent days, reports have emerged of a sensational world record €300 million move for Paris Saint-Germain ace Kylian Mbappe, but all three deals will take varying amounts of time to be completed – if at all – and are unlikely to go through in time for the new arrivals to make it for Thursday’s opener.

Top Saudi Pro League signings

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): The transfer that started it all. The Portuguese superstar moved to the Saudi Pro League in January after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in his first 16 Saudi Pro League games. AFP

Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad): The first statement signing of the summer transfer window, Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined the Saudi champions after agreeing an exit from Real Madrid. The French striker was welcomed with a fittingly grand ceremony. Reuters

N'Golo Kante (Al Ittihad): The French midfielder soon followed Benzema to Ittihad once his Chelsea contract expired. Kante, a two-time Premier League winner and World Cup champion, adds further glamour to the Saudi Pro League. AFP

Ruben Neves (Al Hilal): By far the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history. While Ronaldo and Benzema are the bigger global names, both arrived on free transfers. Portuguese midfielder Neves shattered the transfer record by moving to Hilal from Wolves for £47 million. AP

Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal): After completing the record-breaking move for Neves, Hilal turned their attention to Koulibaly, recruiting the Senegalese centre-back for £20m. Despite a difficult season at Chelsea, Koulibaly has been one of the standout defenders of his generation. AFP

Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli): Before his long-term shoulder injury, Mendy was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. His £16m move to Ahli can help revive his career. AFP

Jota (Al Ittihad): The Saudi champions are making major moves this summer, and the £25m acquisition of Portuguese winger Jota boosts an attack led by Benzema. PA

Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr): Arriving to provide support to Ronaldo at Nassr, Croatian midfielder Brozovic joined the Saudi club for £15m after another impressive season for Champions League finalists Inter Milan. AFP

Steven Gerrard (Al Ettifaq): Major arrivals are not only happening on the pitch but in the dugout. Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Gerrard was appointed by Ettifaq and will aim to revive his career in Saudi. AFP

Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli): The former Liverpool forward left Anfield after eight successful seasons to lead the attack at Ahli. @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal): Arguably the most eye-catching deal of the summer. The 28-year-old Serbia midfielder has frequently been linked with Europe's biggest clubs but has opted to join Hilal in a €40m deal. His midfield partnership with Ruben Neves would be the envy of many European teams. Reuters

Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq): The former Liverpool captain is expected to wear the armband following his move from the Premier League giants. The midfielder departed Anfield after 12 years, seven major trophies and 492 appearances. Reuters

Alex Telles (Al Nassr): The Brazilian defender linked up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr this summer. Telles spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sevilla, helping the Spanish club win the Europa League. He joined Nassr for a reported fee of £4 million. Getty

Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) - Algerian winger Mahrez left Manchester City after five years at the Etihad Stadium in which he won 11 major trophies. In all, he made 236 appearances, scoring 78 goals. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin (Al Ahli): The French winger signed for Jeddah giants Al Ahli on a three-year contract after confirming his departure from Newcastle. During his four years on Tyneside, Saint-Maximin scored 13 goals in 124 appearances. AFP

Fabinho (Al Ittihad): An integral part of a Liverpool squad that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons following his move from Monaco in 2019. Capped 29 times for his country, the Brazilian midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League champions on a three-year contract. AP

Sadio Mane (Al Nassr): After six highly successful years at Liverpool, in which he won the Premier League and Uefa Champions League titles, Mane endured a frustrating season at Bayern Munich, though he contributed to their title success. The Senegalese, 31, will be part of a fearsome attacking line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Nassr. Getty

Malcom (Al Hilal): Not content with breaking the Saudi Pro League transfer record once, Al Hilal did so twice this summer and made Brazilian winger Malcom the most expensive player in Saudi football history. AFP

Seko Fofana (Al Nassr): A player in demand this summer after a superb season to help Lens run PSG close in Ligue 1, the Ivory Coast midfielder opted to link up with Ronaldo at Al Nassr over moves elsewhere in Europe. AC Milan had been strongly linked. AFP

Franck Kessie (Al Ahli): The Ivory Coast midfielder's time at Barcelona may not have worked out but he remains a top-level operator and adds more quality and star power to Al Ahli. Getty

Moussa Dembele (Al Ettifaq): A shrewd free transfer by Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, the French striker has moved to the Saudi Pro League side on a four-year deal and should provide the goals. AFP

Neymar (Al Hilal). The Brazilian completed his move from PSG and is one of the biggest stars in the ever-expanding Saudi Pro League. He was unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Riyadh on Saturday. Getty

Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab). After 265 appearances across two spells at Atletico Madrid, the Belgian winger joined the Riyadh club for a reported fee of €15 million. Carrasco also spent two years in the Chinese Super League. EPA

Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq): The Dutch midfielder enhanced the Liverpool connection at Ettifaq, joining former teammate Jordan Henderson at the Damman club coached by Reds legend Steven Gerrard. Wijnaldum, 32, has signed a three-year contract. Reuters

Gabri Veiga (Al Ahli): Widely regarded as one of the best midfield prospects in Spain, 21-year-old Veiga signed for Ahli on a three-year deal from Celta Vigo despite interest from Liverpool and Napoli. Veiga said he opted for the Saudi Pro League to "grow the game" in the kingdom. EPA

Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr): A vital part of Manchester City's squad that clinched a treble of league, cup and Uefa Champions League in 2023, the Spaniard switched to Nassr over the summer to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. A fee of £23.6 million makes the 29-year-old the league's most expensive defender. Getty Images

Otavio (Al Nassr): The Portugal midfielder scored 31 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Porto after joining the team in 2014. He linked up with Riyadh-based club after Porto accepted a bid of around $65 million. AFP

Merih Demiral: (Al Ahli): The imposing Turkey centre-back boasts Sporting of Lisbon and Juventus among his previous clubs and stood out in Serie A across two seasons at Atalanta. The 25-year-old joined Ahli on a three-year contract. Getty

In turn, Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad had already been spending their pre-season training camp in Taif where they take on Tunisia’s Esperance later on Thursday.

Coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are the new home of Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema and his fellow Frenchman N’Golo Kante, the pair are set to make their competitive debuts in the King Salman Cup despite earlier concerns regarding Kante’s fitness.

Former Celtic winger Jota is another name the Ittihad faithful will be excited to get a first sighting of come Thursday. Al Ittihad’s pursuit of Liverpool anchorman Fabinho remains on track, but a deal is also unlikely to be completed before the start of the tournament.

Al Ittihad had reached the final of the most recent edition of the competition, back in 2021, losing to Raja Casablanca on penalties. Brazilian forward Romarinho bagged a hat-trick in that 4-4 thriller, and he remains a key part of the side.

Nuno will face the enviable challenge of trying to utilise his abundance of attacking talents of Benzema, Jota, Romarinho as well as former Sharjah playmaker Igor Coronado and Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah into his team without damaging its defensive balance, especially as their captain and defensive leader, Ahmed Hegazy, remains sidelined with a long-term injury.

The third of the PIF-backed trio of Saudi clubs in the competition, Al Nassr, led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, just missed out on the league title last season but have since recruited Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic and Lens captain Seko Fofana to upgrade their midfield and most recently completed the signing of Brazilian left back Alex Telles from Manchester United.

Al Nassr start their journey against fellow Riyadh side Al Shabab in a game that highlights the growing gulf between PIF-backed sides and others in the Saudi Pro League. Al Shabab remain without a coach having most recently failed in their efforts to bring in Euro 2016 winning coach Fernando Santos.

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player in front of thousands of fans in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema pses for photos inside the Ittihad dressing room during his unveiling. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Al Ittihad fans pack the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium at Karim Benzema's unveiling. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema lifts the Ballon d'Or trophy during his unveiling as an Al-Ittihad player. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema speaks to the crowd during his unveiling at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah. AFP

Karim Benzema greets young Al Ittihad fans during his unveiling at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah. AFP

Al Ittihad fans display Karim Benzema's Real Madrid shirt during a presentation ceremony at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP

Karim Benzema kicks a football into the stands during his presentation at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Getty Images

Karim Benzema applauds the fans at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Getty Images

Fans watch fireworks at Al Ittihad's stadium in Jeddah during a ceremony to unveil former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. AFP

A billboard welcomes Karim Benzema ahead of his unveiling as an Al Ittihad player. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Karim Benzema's Al Ittihad jersey is displayed in the club's dressing room. Photo: Al-Ittihad

Al Shabab are also yet to make any high-profile signings, adding only Colombian midfield enforcer Gustavo Cuellar, who was deemed surplus to the requirements at Al Hilal.

The growing focus of attention on the star-studded Saudi sides reflects a growing shift in the balance of power in Arab football, from the traditional North African giants to the wealthy and well-run centres of power in the Gulf.

Teams from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have won each of the past seven editions of the Arab Clubs Cup in its various names. Al Ittihad were the last Asian side to win it back in 2005.

While Egypt’s Al Ahly remain the dominant force in African football, their absence means the Arab world’s most populous country, Egypt, is represented by a Zamalek side whose prowess and popularity outside of Cairo has waned in recent years. Since their last CAF Champions League title in 2002, they have had to watch their city rivals win Africa’s top club competition eight times.

Other North African teams participating in this year’s edition including the likes of Raja, Wydad, Sfaxien, Esperance and Algeria’s CB Belouizdad have had to watch their best players leave season after season for richer clubs either to the north in France, Spain and the Netherlands or east to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.

Whether Saudi Arabia emerges as a genuine football power in the region will be one of the most exciting narratives to watch during the King Salman Cup over the next couple of weeks.