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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Sport
John Duerden

Why has Saudi sovereign fund taken over kingdom’s football clubs?

Simon Chadwick Football Cristiano Ronaldo Al Hilal Al Ittihad Al Nassr Al Shabab Saudi Arabia World Cup Al Ahli
[Handout/Al Ittihad via Reuters]

Some of football’s biggest names will play next season in Saudi Arabia.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December, while this month French duo Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante left Real Madrid and Chelsea, respectively, for Saudi champions Al Ittihad. Many more stars are expected to arrive before the start of the Saudi Professional League (SPL) in August.

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