Meet the 'dream team' of top stars who could end up in Saudi Arabia

Barely a day seems to pass this summer without a top level star being linked to the mega-riches of Saudi Arabia as Cristiano Ronaldo was  after he joined in a deal worth £175m-per-year following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.The Portugal legend has had a mixed first season in the Saudi Pro League, impressing in front of goal as he scored 14 times in 16 games, but his new team missed out on the league title to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Al-Ittihad.
Karim Benzema, signing a three-year deal worth £258m with the Saudi champions.Several other major names from European football over the past decade are now being touted for moves, with Cristiano Ronaldo became the first major star to move to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year Karim Benzema then joined Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a shock move this monthIn light of the Saudi power grab, Mail Sport takes a look at the dream team of stars who could all be plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League next season.We’ve compiled a starting XI and seven substitutes, lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with the Saudi All-Stars squad having a combined age of 599, while they have also won 334 career trophies between them.  GOALKEEPER — DAVID DE GEA — AGE: 32, TROPHIES: 10, RUMOURED WAGE: N/AAlthough David de Gea is widely expected to pen a new deal with Manchester United, it is still yet to be signed off by the club.Given he has come under scrutiny for many high-profile errors and poor distribution in recent months — which puts his position as No.

1 next season under threat — it raises questions over whether the Spaniard could in fact move on. De Gea has reportedlywho has been a mainstay at one of the biggest clubs in the world for over a decade.  David de Gea has reportedly received ‘tempting offers’ from top Saudi Arabian clubs recently  CENTRE BACK — SERGIO RAMOS — AGE: 37, TROPHIES: 28, RUMOURED WAGE: N/ALegendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos at the end of the season after two years at the club.Reports in Spain as far back as last year claimed Al-Nassr want to reunite Ramos with Cristiano Ronaldo.Given he retired from international duty in February this year, the timing might be right for the four-time Champions League winner — who also has interest from Al-Ahli — to move on from European football. Legendary Spanish defender has so far been linked with moves to both Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli CENTRE BACK — PEPE — AGE: 40, TROPHIES: 28, RUMOURED WAGED: N/ARamos’s former centre back partner at Real Madrid, Pepe, could even join him, with the veteran defender another to be linked with a highly-lucrative move.Ronaldo has reportedly urged his bosses to organise a reunion with Pepe at club level, meaning the Portuguese defender could join Al-Nassr.With Ronaldo, Ramos and Pepe in the same side, they could be lining up with several Los Blancos icons. Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly urged his bosses to reunite him with Pepe at club level againCENTRE BACK — KALIDOU KOULIBALY — AGE: 31, TROPHIES: 4, RUMOURED WAGE: N/ASince moving to Chelsea for £34m last summer, Kalidou Koulibaly has endured a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge.He has struggled for form and fitness and reports broke on Monday that the Senegal skipper has been  — who have invested in several Saudi clubs and hold an 80 per cent share in Newcastle.Champions Al-Ittihad have been mentioned as a destination, but Koulibaly will reportedly have the pick of whatever club he wants in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s PIF are reported to have offered Kalidou Koulibaly an escape from Chelsea  RIGHT WING BACK — RIYAD MAHREZ — AGE: 32, TROPHIES: 14, RUMOURED WAGE: £85MFresh off winning a Treble with Manchester City, Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez is the latest star to be linked with the Saudi Pro League.Al-Ahli are reportedly set to offer Mahrez — who has two years left on his contract at City — as they look to persuade him to leave English football.Officials from the club have been in London to discuss the possibility of deals regarding several players, with Mahrez one under consideration and the former Leicester title-winner would be another high quality addition to Saudi Arabia. Riyad Mahrez could be swapping life at Treble-winning Man City for mega-riches at Al-AhliCENTRE MIDFIELD — N’GOLO KANTE — AGE: 32, TROPHIES: 8, RUMOURED WAGE: £86MHe might not have featured much over recent times for Chelsea, but are there many midfielders better in European football when fit than N’Golo Kante?The 32-year-old has achieved greatness in the game, winning back-to-back Premier League titles with underdogs Leicester in 2015-16, and Chelsea the following year, while he has also won a Champions League and World Cup. ahead of a move to Al-Ittihad worth £172m and he is expected to be announced as Saudi Arabia’s newest recruit imminently.  N’Golo Kante is the next star expected to join a Saudi Arabian club with a move imminentCENTRE MIDFIELD — SERGIO BUSQUETS — AGE: 34, TROPHIES: 34, RUMOURED WAGE: £170M Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets penned an emotional goodbye to the Nou Camp at the end of the season and the former Spain midfielder is now contemplating his next steps.He has been heavily linked to three teams: Al-Hilal, ‘s and . Busquets and Messi have a close relationship from more than a decade at Barcelona, and it is claimed the pair have an unwritten pact they will play for one more season together before retirement, although the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia could prove to be too much to refuse.  Sergio Busquets (left) has offers from two Saudi clubs on the table after leaving BarcelonaLEFT WING BACK — SADIO MANE — AGE: 31, TROPHIES: 11, RUMOURED WAGE: N/A, CAREER GOALS: 206Just a year ago, football fans were hailing Bayern Munich’s £35m signing of Liverpool star Sadio Mane as a superb piece of business.However, it was a disastrous campaign for the Senegal star in Germany as he struggled with injury and off-field problems, while he will be best remembered for his dressing room bust-up with Leroy Sane. and he would bring yet more glitz, glamour and quality to the Saudi league. Sadio Mane is being lined up for a move by Al-Ettifaq after a dreadful season at Bayern Munich  ATTACKING MIDFIELD — NEYMAR — AGE: 31, TROPHIES: 29, RUMOURED WAGE: £175M, CAREER GOALS: 304Having missed out on his close friend and former teammate Messi, The Brazilian has dazzled at PSG, scoring 118 goals in 173 games for the club but struggled with injury as the Parisians’ season imploded during the second half of the season.They are reportedly ready to cash in on him as they look to rebuild around a more sustainable model, andas they look to add a global superstar to rival the other top Saudi clubs with Benzema at Al-Ittihad and Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.  PSG are reportedly open to moving on Neymar and Al-Hilal are seen as a major suitor for him  STRIKER — CRISTIANO RONALDO — AGE: 38, TROPHIES: 31, RUMOURED WAGE: £175M, CAREER GOALS: 715Being the first major global icon to move to Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo claimed last week his £175m-a-year move to Al-Nassr opened ‘a box’ for other stars such as Benzema and Kante to follow.The Portugal star is one of the most decorated footballers of all-time with five Ballon d’Or’s and the same amount of Champions League triumphs.We’ve seen signs of his talent during his first season in Saudi Arabia and he will be out for revenge next season as he looks to help Al-Nassr recover from missing out on league and cup triumphs. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr at the end of last year and will be out for success next year  STRIKER — KARIM BENZEMA: AGE: 35, TROPHIES: 32, RUMOURED WAGE: £86M, CAREER GOALS: 435There is no doubt that Real Madrid were caught by surprise when Karim Benzema announced he was leaving the club, with the Frenchman still more than good enough to play at an elite level in Europe — exemplified by 31 goals in 43 games last season.His move to Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal worth £258m was another pivotal moment as the Saudi Pro League continues to assert its authority on the footballing world.Given thelast week in front of 60,000 fans, the anticipation of the impact the Ballon d’Or winner can bring is cataclysmic.  Karim Benzema was welcomed with open arms at his unveiling in front of 60,000 supporters  SUBSTITUTES HUGO LLORIS — AGE: 36,  TROPHIES: 4, RUMOURED WAGE: £15.6MThe Tottenham captain has already revealed he will move on this summer, claiming it is the ‘end of an era’ after 11 hugely impressive years in north London. that would see him triple his £100,000-a-week wages.It is seen as highly likely he will move to the Middle East, although the rumoured £15.6m-per-year is small change in relation to what’s on offer to many other stars.  Hugo Lloris has already revealed he will leave Spurs and is touted with a move to Saudi ArabiaYERRY MINA — AGE: 28, TROPHIES: 6, RUMOURED WAGE: N/AAfter leaving Everton upon the expiry of his contract, Yerry Mina is another player to have been linked with the kingdom.Despite struggling with injuries at Goodison Park, there was no doubting the Colombian’s quality or commitment to the cause when he was on the pitch as he played a crucial role in the Toffees’ survival during the past two years.As the only player under 30 on this list of targets for Saudi Arabia, the former Barcelona defender could be an astute pick up for several sides.  Yerry Mina impressed during his time at Everton but he also badly struggled with injuriesJORDI ALBA — AGE: 34, TROPHIES: 19, RUMOURED WAGE: N/AAs Barcelona continue to battle financial regulations, Jordi Alba became the latest in a long list of club legends The left back could also join many of his former LaLiga teammates in moving to Saudi Arabia,Alba may not be the biggest name among the list of global stars linked, but he continued to show his quality for both Spain and the Catalan giants at points last season.  Jordi Alba recently left Barcelona and he could be joining many LaLiga stars in Saudi ArabiaMARCO VERRATTI — AGE: 30, TROPHIES: 32, RUMOURED WAGE: £52m Italian passmaster Marco Verratti passed 400 appearances for PSG last season as he completed his 11th season with the club.However, it was a difficult and tumultuous campaign for the midfielder as he was among the players targeted by.Verratti is said to be keen on remaining with PSG, but reports state he has a £52m-a-year offer on the table from Al-Hilal if he did decide to move on from the French capital. Italian midfielder Marco Verratti has been linked with a move away from PSG after a tricky yearANGEL DI MARIA — AGE: 35, TROPHIES: 32, RUMOURED WAGE: N/AAfter an underwhelming one-year spell with Juventus, Angel Di Maria — who admitted it had been ‘a difficult and complicated period’ — will be on the move again this summer.The Argentine winger showed he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level with his performances at the World Cup last year.He has been touted with a move to several clubs in Saudi Arabia, but they face competition from teams in Europe and the MLS.  Angel Di Maria is weighing up offers from teams in Saudi Arabia, the MLS and across EuropeROMELU LUKAKU: AGE: 30, TROPHIES: 6, RUMOURED WAGE: £21M, CAREER GOALS: 280 With a return to Italy unlikely for Romelu Lukaku due to financial constraints for Inter Milan, there are limited options for the Belgian striker given his contractual situation.Having joined Chelsea for £97.5m in the summer of 2021, on a mammoth £315,000-a-week, he still has three years to run on his contract, meaning very few clubs will be able to afford him.This is where the Saudi riches come in and it was reported on Tuesday. Romelu Lukaku could be another star to move to the Middle East with a return to Inter unlikelyPIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG: AGE: 33, TROPHIES: 7, RUMOURED WAGE: N/A, CAREER GOALS: 304After a nightmare spell at Chelsea that saw him score just one Premier League goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to move on this summer.The Gabon forward was linked with a loan move to Saudi back in January, and is again a target for Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab, Having shown his goalscoring acumen during his brief six-month spell at Barcelona in 2022, Aubameyang could find his prolific touch again if he was to move to the Saudi Pro League.  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will hope to rediscover his goal scoring touch after a dismal year  MANAGERSTEVEN GERRARDSince being sacked by Aston Villa in October, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been linked with several jobs including Poland, Leicester and Leeds.On Monday, he , with reports claiming he had arrived in Saudi Arabia as he prepares to take the role on.Gerrard struggled at Villa after an initial positive impression, but he did have success during three years at Rangers, guiding them to their first Scottish league title in 11 years during the 2020-21 campaign.  Steven Gerrad has emerged as a shock contender to be Al-Ettifaq boss as he plans his next move as a manager after being sacked by Aston Villa back in October 2022  

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