THE moment Cristiano Ronaldo signed his eye-watering deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, experts predicted there'd be a ripple effect around the football world.
And they were right.
Clubs in the Saudi Professional League (SPL) have been on a shopping spree in the months since the Portuguese superstar made the Middle East his home, snapping up one big name after the other.
In June, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad on a three-year deal worth a reported $100 million (R1,9 billion) and others soon followed suit.
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kanté and Portugal midfielder Rúben Neves have all signed with Saudi clubs.
Most recently Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar signed a two-year deal with Al Hilal in a move reportedly worth £86m (R2bn). Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mané signed with Al Nassr in a deal that will earn him £650 000 (R15,6m) a week. Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson inked a contract with Al Ettifaq, which means he'll bank £700 000 (R16,8m) a week.
The message is clear: Saudi is on a mission to take on the world's biggest football leagues.
But it's not going to be that easy - the country has a long, dark history of human rights violations, making it a tough sell.
Al Hilal also made a world-record £259m (R6,2bn) offer for PSG's Kylian Mbappé but he turned it down, saying he doesn't want to play in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis also desperately wanted Lionel Messi, offering an eye-watering £390m (R9,3bn) for him to play at Al Hilal, but he opted to go to David Beckham's Inter Miami instead.
A setback? Well, maybe. But Saudi Arabia's football offensive shows no sign of slowing down. The country is hosting the 2023 Fifa Club World Cup in December - with Manchester City among the competing teams - and will also host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 7 September 2023-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 7 September 2023-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them
LIAM LAID TO REST
More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.
SHILOH HANGS OUT
THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.
LEO IN LOVE
He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down
PACKING A PUNCH
Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William
