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The Digest:

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has completed a surprise free transfer from Al-Ittihad to league rivals Al-Hilal on deadline day, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract. The 38-year-old French striker, who had been with Al-Ittihad since 2023, departs after leading the club to a domestic double in 2025. The move is reported to have angered Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who believes his club is not receiving sufficient backing from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns several top clubs, including both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Ronaldo's absence from Al-Nassr's recent match is speculated to be linked to his displeasure.

Key Points:
  • The transfer reshapes the competitive balance within the Saudi Pro League, strengthening one of its top clubs with a proven, high-profile goalscorer.
  • It highlights the complex dynamics of a league where multiple elite clubs are owned by the same sovereign wealth fund, creating internal rivalry and perceived imbalances in support.
  • Benzema's move on a free transfer represents a significant coup for Al-Hilal, acquiring a player of his caliber without a fee at the end of his contract.
  • Ronaldo's reported frustration underscores player concerns about club ambition and parity in a league where financial power is concentrated under a single entity.
  • The move signals that the Saudi league remains an active and unpredictable market, capable of major transfers even as its initial explosive spending phase evolves.
Benzema's switch intensifies the rivalry at the top of the Saudi Pro League while exposing underlying tensions among the PIF-owned clubs regarding resource allocation and competitive fairness.

Sources: Official club statement from Al-Hilal, Goal, Premium Times