The head coach of English team Newcastle, Eddie Howe, has worried Al-Nassr fans by opening the door for the possibility of joining stars from the Roshan League, including Cristiano Ronaldo, on loan to his team. Newcastle, owned by the Saudi Investment Fund, will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season after 20 years, yet they have only secured one deal this summer by signing Sandro Tonali, a star midfielder from Milan.
Howe was asked during an interview with the English newspaper "Daily Mail" about the possibility of loaning some stars from the Saudi league, particularly Ronaldo, Ruben Neves, and Karim Benzema. He did not shut the door completely, which represents a golden opportunity for the Portuguese star to return to playing in the Champions League, a tournament where he has achieved indelible glory. He stated, "It depends on how positive that would be for Newcastle; we act according to our interests first."
The 45-year-old coach added regarding the amounts paid by Saudi clubs for European stars: "I don't think player prices are exaggerated; perhaps salaries are, and that is necessary to attract players to the Saudi league." It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Investment Fund recently acquired 75% ownership of the clubs Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli, and has supported each with a number of players, most notably Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and Roberto Firmino.
