The influx of European stars moving to play in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) has sparked divided opinions among the public. The majority of fans criticize, claiming that the world of football has been corrupted by money. However, what is even more surprising is that many players, like Oscar, openly admit that they indeed need money, a substantial amount of money. So, is it wrong?
Oscar's Story In his final interview with the Wolves media team before joining Al-Hilal for £47 million, Ruben Neves tearfully shared, "Every moment here is unforgettable. No words can describe the Wolves dressing room. Here, I experienced an incredible spirit, an amazing atmosphere. Thank you to everyone at the club, thank you to the fans for welcoming me and my family, for considering us a part of this place. Six years have been a long journey, and now I become one of you, a lifelong Wolves fan."
In the comments section, apart from expressions of understanding, many fans believe that Neves is being disingenuous. If he truly loves Wolves, why didn't he stay? And if the reason for leaving is genuinely football-related, why choose Saudi Arabia? Former footballer Peter Crouch passionately states, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I can't fathom a 26-year-old player at the peak of his career moving to the SPL. I can understand the cases of Ronaldo and Benzema, who have achieved everything in Europe. SPL is a good place to play in the twilight of your career and earn a high salary. But what is a 26-year-old player doing there? Besides earning money?"
Neves' story of leaving European football at the pinnacle of his career bears resemblance to Oscar's. For a long time, the trend of moving to the SPL was followed by the Chinese Super League, which peaked in 2017. Among them, Oscar's case stood out as he left Chelsea at the age of 25 to join Shanghai SIPG. Oscar's status at the time was much higher than Neves' now. He was one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, a key figure at Stamford Bridge, a favorite of Jose Mourinho, and attracted interest from Atletico and three Serie A giants: Juventus, Inter, and Milan. But he rejected them all, deciding to go to East Asia for a £400,000-per-week deal over four years.
Needless to say, Europeans were not only surprised but also disappointed with Oscar. "Passion must come before money. The most important thing for us is passion," Antonio Conte commented about Oscar. "If a player doesn't have that, then it's not good at all." Jamie Carragher added, "Is this a step forward in Oscar's career? He talks about going to develop Chinese football, working with Andre Villas-Boas, and the excitement of exploring a new environment. We all know those are rubbish words. He only cares about the numbers in his contract. Nothing more. It's shameful when a player gives up his career, the opportunity to compete against top opponents, just for money."
Let's be less harsh on those struggling to make a living It's easy to criticize people like Oscar or Neves, but it's difficult to understand what they have been through to reach where they are today. Ultimately, no one lives another person's life, and everything happens for a reason. "China has the financial power to offer irresistible proposals," Oscar admitted. "Every player, every person when they work, wants to earn money to support their family. I grew up in a poor childhood in Brazil. We had nothing. I emphasize, absolutely nothing. And money is what working people like us need the most."
Even though he has repeatedly expressed how much he misses European football and wants to return, if given the chance to go back and choose again, Oscar would still do exactly what he did. He sacrificed his own career to ensure that his entire family no longer had to struggle to make a living. What outsiders think of Oscar is not important. To his family, Oscar is a pillar, if not a benefactor who changed their lives. And we all understand that family is always the most important thing to each individual.
Football is just a profession. It's just that its associated value turns players into public figures and subject them to more scrutiny than a worker, an engineer, or an office employee. Certainly, no one would criticize a doctor for going to Saudi Arabia or China to work solely because the salary there is higher and claim that they lack passion for their profession. But well, life is inherently relatively fair. Oscar or Neves, no matter how hard they try, cannot live a perfect life on both paths. They cannot live according to someone else's wishes. They have paid the "price" for their decisions, but it is a price that is truly worthy of a human being.
How much money has Oscar earned in China? Initially, Oscar received a yearly salary of £20.8 million (£400,000 per week) when he signed a four-year contract with Shanghai Port. By December 2019, the Brazilian midfielder signed a new contract extending until 2024. Oscar's wages also increased to £563,000 per week (£28 million per year). After five and a half years of playing in China, Oscar has earned over £114 million in salary alone. Shanghai Port may still owe him around £60 million in wages until the end of his contract.
