Joined < 6 months, many stars take pay cuts to leave Saudi league for Europe!

Iti911

Saudi Arabia's lavish spending on European football stars last year made a lasting impression. Many joined the Saudi league for hefty salaries. However, within less than a year, numerous players regretted their decision and sought a return to European leagues. Why?

One controversial case is former Liverpool player and captain Henderson. While at Liverpool, he often spoke up for the LGBTQ community. However, in Saudi Arabia, all discussions about LGBTQ topics are prohibited and even illegal. Critics from the UK community accused Henderson of mere showmanship, joining Saudi Arabia solely for the money. Despite Henderson's denials, the criticisms persist.

Unexpectedly, after just half a year with the Saudi team, Henderson expressed regret and a desire to return to the English Premier League. The team's poor performance, eight consecutive winless matches, and the departure of assistant coach and England teammate Foster were key factors. Moreover, Henderson struggled to adapt to the local lifestyle and climate, willing to take a significant pay cut for a chance to return to the Premier League.

Henderson is not the sole player facing difficulty integrating due to cultural differences. Reports suggest discontent from Benzema and Firmino in Saudi Arabia. Benzema displayed poor performance, while Firmino, incompatible with the team, found himself on the bench. Crucially, these players feel the vast difference in fan attendance and game atmosphere between Saudi Arabia's sparse crowds and Europe's tens of thousands. Consequently, they are willing to take substantial pay cuts to return to European football. It seems that sometimes money cannot buy happiness.

Isha000

Hope Henderson can return to his familiar "home" team and continue to showcase his talents.

Janak9955

It's a situation of trade-offs—wanting both ample earnings and happiness while expecting the team to perform well. There's no perfect scenario with all these elements aligning perfectly.

Ritu13

Taking a pay cut is inevitable. Except for a few players, moving to Saudi Arabia to play usually happens when European competition becomes challenging. If these players wish to return to European competitions, especially to teams contending for titles, a salary reduction is essential since such teams no longer have the budget for high-profile players. Smaller clubs, on the other hand, also find it difficult to afford the high wages of these star players, making a salary cut necessary.

Yamini003

Going to Saudi Arabia is for the sake of living, while playing in the top five European leagues is for pursuing ideals and glory. The choice is crucial, and at a certain age, you may only be able to choose one path. Once you've chosen the path of living, there's no need for regrets.

Iravan774

Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country with different cultural norms from European countries. Players might consider returning home due to discomfort with the lifestyle. However, for such players, returning to European competitions at the end of their careers may not result in a satisfying conclusion. True professionals adapt themselves for the sake of the game. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, who is excelling in Saudi Arabia while earning a high salary. These players were well aware of the living conditions in Saudi Arabia before moving, initially motivated by financial gains. Now that they have earned their money, some may be tempted to slack off, displaying behavior akin to thuggery rather than professional conduct.

Kahn332

Players who want to return to Europe after playing in Saudi Arabia often lack notable performances. Many of them receive high salaries but deliver poor performances. Some experience a genuine decline in form, while others simply do not put in the effort. Additionally, those who move to Saudi Arabia are usually older, making it challenging for them to return to Europe.

Kalkin995

Why do some players, despite receiving high salaries and maintaining a high level of performance, continue to excel? Let's take Mitrović, for example, excluding Cristiano Ronaldo. In Saudi Arabia, his performance has remained consistently stable, just as it was when he started in the English Championship. After the team's promotion to the Premier League, he continued to perform well, and even in Saudi Arabia, his performance has been stable. What does this signify? It suggests that some players may struggle when they leave certain environments, while others have the ability to shine wherever they go.