\n
French icon Karim Benzema swapped one Saudi club for another on Monday as he moved from rivals Al Ittihad to Al Hilal, a move that could spell bad news for the Saudis. Cristiano Ronaldo<\/span>. <\/p>\nThe former Ballon d’Or winner joins Al Hilal, who are at the top of the Saudi Pro League, one point ahead of Ronaldo’s Al Nasr.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo is still waiting for his first league win Move to Saudi Arabia in 2022<\/span> And he has seen his main rival strengthen with the arrival of five-time Champions League winner Benzema.<\/p>\nFormer Real Madrid striker and teammate of Ronaldo at the Spanish giants. Last year, he led Al Ittihad to the title and the King’s Cup. <\/p>\n
Al Hilal is Saudi Arabia’s most successful team with 21 league titles and 4 Asian Championships.<\/p>\n
That was last year Manchester City stunned<\/span> At the Club World Cup, they defeated Josep Guardiola’s team 4-3.<\/p>\nThe team, led by two-time Champions League finalist Simone Inzaghi, poses a major threat to Ronaldo’s hopes of becoming league champions after sparking a wave of top footballers leaving the Saudi league, including Benzema.<\/p>\n
Benzema’s signing comes amid reports that Ronaldo is unhappy with the lack of transfer activity from Al Nasr.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is the majority shareholder in Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Nasr.<\/p>\n
Al Hilal are used to signing great contracts; Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar<\/span> In 2023. Previously tried to make a deal with Killian Mbapp\u00e9, world record $332 million<\/span> Then, last year, he moved to Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\nRonaldo joins Al Nasr leave man united<\/span> The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has become the face of Saudi football, but his only trophy is the Arab Champions Cup. <\/p>\nHe was absent from Al Nasr’s Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh on Monday amid reports that he was unhappy.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
James Robson is https:\/\/x.com\/James Saran Robson<\/span><\/p>\n___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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