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FourFourTwo
Sport
Ryan Dabbs

'Saudi Pro League isn't as easy as you'd think...' Former Premier League star highlights difficulties with playing in Middle East

Saudi Pro League EPL Pro League Cristiano Ronaldo Demarai Gray the Saudi Pro League AlEttifaq Saudi Arabia Al Ettifaq Ligue 1
Demarai Gray of Al Ettifaq celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his sides third goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Wehda v Al Ettifaq at King Abdul Aziz Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdul Ghani Bashir Issa/MB Media/Getty Images).

The Saudi Pro League has seen a raft of top talent move there in the past 18 months, with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante and Aymeric Laporte all now plying their trade in the Middle East. 

Ronaldo even claimed last year that he believed the standard of Saudi Arabia's top flight was no worse than Ligue 1, suggesting competitiveness and ability were on a par with the top division in France. 

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