Featured Image Credit: Getty & PA
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema, Al Nassr
Patrick Rowe
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema, Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo could earn Al Nassr a massive payday if they win the AFC Champions League.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee have announced huge reforms in the Asian football structure for both the women's and men's game.
In a meeting on Monday, President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa announced the new tier system which will include the AFC Champions League as the top tier, AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) as the second and the AFC Challenge League (ACGL) as the final tier. With the changes set to be in place for the 2024/25 season.
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A total of 76 teams will take part across all three divisions, potentially including Ronaldo's Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
Speaking after the announcement, Salman commented on the changes across Asian football.
“Our club competitions are already amongst the best and most lucrative in Continental football, and today the AFC is embarking on a new and historic era with these forward-looking initiatives in both men’s and women’s Asian club football,” he said.
“The AFC has outlined its ambitions to ensure our teams and players continue to shine through world-class competitions and a major part of this ambition is anchored on our promise to reinvest in our competitions, which is the lifeblood of development for all our Member Associations.”
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The AFC is also set to offer an increase in the prize money handed out to the champions.
As of next season, winners will get $12m (£9.5m) instead of $4m (£3.1m), an increase of 200 per cent and also the largest prize money in Asian football history.
Meanwhile, the runners-up will also see their prize money doubled, from $2m (£1.6m) to $4m (£3.1m).
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For reference, clubs that win the UEFA Champions League title secure $21m (£16.7m) in prize money for triumphing the final, with $16.7m (£13.3m) awarded to the runners up.
A number of world-class players including Ronaldo, Mane, Roberto Firmino and Karim Benzema have all decided to accept lucrative offers from the Middle East in the last year.
As they continue to invest in both players and the infrastructure across their leagues, the recruitment drive from Asia is likely to go from strength to strength in the coming years.