Former France International And 1998 FIFA World Cup Winner Bixente Lizarazu Has Criticized Kingsley Coman’s Decision To Join Cristiano Ronaldo At Al Nassr In The Saudi Pro League. The Former Bayern Munich Star Completed A €25 Million Transfer To Saudi Arabia In August 2025, Sparking Heated Debates Across The Football World.
Kingsley Coman, Who Began His Career At Paris Saint-Germain Before Moving To Juventus, Established Himself As A Modern-Day Legend At Bayern Munich. Joining The Bavarians In 2015, Coman Collected 20 Trophies During His Ten-Year Spell, Including The Historic 2020 UEFA Champions League Final Where He Scored The Winning Goal Against PSG.
Despite His Success, The French Winger Opted To Leave The Allianz Arena For A New Challenge In Saudi Arabia — A Move That Has Drawn Mixed Reactions.
Speaking To Telefoot (Via Tribal Football), Lizarazu Did Not Hold Back His Views On Coman’s Switch To Saudi Arabia. He Believes That The Decision Was Not Motivated By Sporting Ambitions But Rather By Financial Incentives.
“No One Will Be Able To Convince Me That Going To Saudi Arabia Is A Sporting Choice,” Said Lizarazu.
The Former Bayern Munich Defender Further Questioned The League’s Ability To Develop Players.
“It’s Not A League That Helps You Grow. Coman Could Have Played In A Major European League, In England For Example. It’s Not A Choice That Pushes You To The Top.”
He Compared The Situation To N’Golo Kanté’s Recall To The French National Team Despite Playing In Saudi Arabia, But Emphasized That At 29, Coman Should Still Be Competing In Europe’s Elite Leagues.
On The Other Hand, Kingsley Coman Revealed That Cristiano Ronaldo Was Instrumental In Persuading Him To Join Al Nassr.
“After Spending So Many Years At Bayern, I No Longer Had The Same Impact At The Club. Then Al Nassr Came And Offered Me A New Project… And I Thought To Myself, Why Not?” Said Coman.
Coman Added That Ronaldo Personally Called Him To Reassure Him About The Club’s Ambition. The Frenchman Was Convinced By The Vision Of Winning Trophies And The Opportunity To Be At The Heart Of A New Football Project.
Since His Arrival, Coman Has Already Played Two Matches, Registering One Goal And One Assist. His Partnership With Ronaldo Is Expected To Be A Key Driving Force As Al Nassr Targets Silverware This Season.
From A Sports Marketing Perspective, This Transfer Highlights The Saudi Pro League’s Aggressive Strategy To Leverage Global Icons Like Cristiano Ronaldo To Attract Other European Stars. The Narrative Of “Building A Legacy” Beyond Europe Is A Powerful Marketing Tool That Enhances The League’s Visibility And Commercial Value Worldwide.
While Lizarazu Believes The Move Represents A Step Back In Coman’s Career, The Saudi Market Is Positioning Itself As A Lucrative Destination For Brands, Sponsors, And Players Looking To Expand Their Reach Beyond Traditional Football Hubs.
Kingsley Coman’s Move To Al Nassr, Backed By Cristiano Ronaldo’s Influence, Is A Story That Perfectly Captures The Collision Between Footballing Ambitions And Marketing Opportunities. Whether This Decision Enhances Or Diminishes His Legacy Remains To Be Seen, But For The Saudi Pro League, It Is Another Major Win In Their Bid To Compete With Europe’s Footballing Giants.
What Do You Think About Coman’s Move — A Smart Step Or A Wrong Turn? Share Your Thoughts Below!
Written By Abdul Noah Ocholi | Sports Market International
Barcelona are reportedly gearing up for a massive summer transfer window, with the Catalan giants…
A Serie A clash between Napoli and Atalanta took a shocking turn off the pitch…
Italian cricket is facing a storm just days after its historic debut at the T20…
Football met fashion in spectacular style as Eberechi Eze swapped the North London Derby spotlight…
Marcus Rashford’s revival story in Spain looks set for a fairytale ending. After months of…
Football has once again been pulled into the global conversation on racism — and this…