SFS23: "The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo opened the gates for us" (S. Al Lazeez, Saudi Pro League)

"Bringing in talent is obviously part of our strategy. Our aim is to influence a whole generation of local players. In this sense, the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo (at Al Nassr FC on 30/12/2022) has opened the gates for us. He contributes to the Saudi community, not only as a player but also as a human being. He is a role model for our players," said Saad Al Lazeez, acting CEO of the Saudi Pro League, in Rome (ITA) on 21/11/2023.

The Saudi Arabian was present at the Stadio Olimpico as part of the 6^th edition of the Social Football Summit (SFS), the leading international event for the football industry, which is being held on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22/11/2023.

"Phase 1 of our project has been a success, given the number of players we have signed from major European clubs. Stadium attendances have been growing sharply, sponsorship revenues have tripled, TV rights are selling well and our media value is having a huge impact. We're very happy, but we're only at the beginning of the road," said Al Lazeez.