Lukaku makes lofty Saudi Arabia prediction and hints at next transfer move

25 January 2024 , 11:03

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Romelu Lukaku has praised the Saudi top flight (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Romelu Lukaku is convinced he will end up playing in Saudi Arabia and believes their domestic football scene can become "one of the best in the world".

The Belgian forward, who is currently on loan at Roma, has talked up the Saudi Pro League as they continue to pour huge sums into player investment. Last summer they spent big to land some of the game's biggest names after capturing Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2023.

Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, the world's most expensive player Neymar and N'Golo Kante all chose to head to Saudi Arabia to ply their trade. Leagues outside of Europe have never been regarded as among the best in the world, but Lukaku believes that could change after playing a friendly in the Kingdom.

He told Belgian outlet HLN : “In the next two years I see this league becoming one of the best in the world, if not the best. The clubs make a lot of efforts to bring the 'big' players here. As a result, the teams and the footballing qualities are improving significantly.”

Lukaku was also quizzed on whether he could see himself playing in the Saudi Pro League and replied: "Absolutely". Ronaldo has claimed that, despite only recently investing in, the top flight in Saudi Arabia is a better level than the French league, which features the likes of PSG.

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The Portuguese icon said during Dubai's Globe Soccer Awards event on Friday: "The Saudi league is not worse than Ligue 1. The Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after one year spent there. We are better than the French league already now."

He also added: “I feel so happy at Al Nassr, it’s a great move. Saudi is in a process, it will take long… but step by step they will go to the top level. I think the Saudi Pro League will be among top three leagues in the world. People in Saudi will be proud”.

Romelu Lukaku has talked up an eventual move to Saudi Arabia (Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite Ronaldo's declaration the Saudi Pro League has already seen some of its biggest stars push to leave. Jordan Henderson quit Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq on a lucrative deal, but has already agreed to terminate his contract and join Dutch side Ajax.

Now there is speculation suggesting that Benzema, arguably Saudi Arabia's biggest capture in the summer, is looking to seek pastures new. Attendances have also been down with some top flight matches in the Middle East being played in front of small crowds.

Samuel Meade