RIYADH — Saudi Pro League CEO Omar Mugharbel has emphasized the profound impact Cristiano Ronaldo has had on the league while shedding light on the decision-making process surrounding the contracts of its marquee players. Speaking during an interview with FourFourTwo, Mugharbel highlighted the league's commitment to fostering talent and maintaining global appeal. "It's no secret that Ronaldo has created a massive impact on the league, both domestically and internationally," Mugharbel said. "It creates a lot of value and continues to do so. However, all discussions around the duration, the contract, and re-signing is a matter between Ronaldo and the club to agree on whether that's something that's going to happen or not." Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January 2023, has been a transformative figure for the Saudi Pro League. His two-and-a-half-year contract is set to expire this summer, shortly after his 40th birthday. With over 50 league goals to his name, his potential re-signing could play a pivotal role in upcoming negotiations for the league's overseas TV rights. Similarly, Neymar's future at Al Hilal remains uncertain. The Brazilian star, whose contract also ends this summer, has spent much of his tenure sidelined by an ACL injury. Mugharbel stressed that such decisions ultimately rest with the player and their club. "Like Ronaldo, it's a discussion between the club and the player on how they view their future," Mugharbel noted. "Having Neymar in the league, even though he hasn't been playing, he has a massive following globally and he's quite active from a community perspective, so it creates a lot of value for the league. But what the future holds, that's something the player and the club have to discuss." The league's long-term strategy involves attracting more global superstars. With Mohamed Salah among the rumored targets, the league continues to explore opportunities to enhance its appeal and commercial value. "Football comes first, so depending on a club's needs and appetites to sign a specific player, that will mandate what signings happen," Mugharbel said. "Obviously, there's a commercial impact of certain players coming to the league, but it's about football and creating that product. Then the secondary value comes from a commercial perspective." When asked about the possibility of reigniting interest in Lionel Messi, Mugharbel remained optimistic about Saudi Arabia's growing allure for international players. "Saudi Arabia today is a viable career choice for many stars," he explained. "This is a long-term vision of us wanting to invest in the game in Saudi Arabia. It's not a one-year plan, it's a multi-year plan. We will continue to see this."
