Cristiano Ronaldo was the first global icon to move to the Middle East at the end of 2022 after he joined Al-Nassr in a deal worth £175m-per-year following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.

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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 then shocked Real Madrid by announcing he would be leaving Los Blancos, 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 N’Golo Kante expected to be the next, imminently joining Benzema as a teammate.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first major star to move to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year