Peter Crouch is the latest high-profile pundit to criticise players joining the state-backed Saudi Pro League.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s ministry of sport announced the Public Investment Fund - the entity which also owns an 80 percent stake in Newcastle United - would take control of four clubs: Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr. The shake-up has changed the course of this summer’s transfer window drastically, with several top players heading to the Middle East.
Cristiano Ronaldo took the plunge in January following his explosive Manchester United exit and he has since been joined by former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema. N’Golo Kante will join Al Ittihad on July 1, with his Chelsea team-mates Hakim Ziyech, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly expected to follow suit.
While many thought the Pro League to be a retirement home for ageing players, those in their prime are also heading to the Gulf state. Wolves talisman Ruben Neves, who has been linked with Liverpool in the past, has already secured a staggering £47million move to Al Hilal while Bernardo Silva, according to Marca, is reportedly weighing up an offer.
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And former Liverpool striker Crouch has slammed those jumping ship during the peak of their careers - highlighting how legacy is being sacrificed for money they will earn regardless. He told talkSPORT: “Player-wise, you can kind of understand it. I don't understand the 25-year-old players in their prime (joining Saudi clubs).
“You’re always going to be 10 years away from any league getting started, we’ve seen this before. The only thing with the Saudi situation is (that) these boys are serious. They did it with the LIV golf, they just didn’t go away.
“I think that will probably be the case with football (too). We can’t really ignore it because it looks like it’s happening, whether we like it or not. But for players, like Neves, 26 years old to go and play in Saudi… I get it with players like (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Karim) Benzema, players who have achieved everything.
“It’s one last payday in the sunshine and you can retire. They’ve achieved everything they want in the game. But these boys at 25 and 26, they have the opportunity to go and win things. It’s about memories and legacy. They’re still going to get paid well, aren’t they?”
