Al Ittihad Stars Benzema and Kante Share Fun Moment in Training, Video

• Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante shared a fun moment in training with Al-Ittihad
• The two stars recently joined the Saudi Pro League after being offered big money
• Al-Ittihad won the league last term beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr to the title

Saudi Pro League clubs have been making waves all over the world for their extravagant spending on transfers, especially this year.

Some of their clubs have lured top European stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N'Golo Kante. The latter duo were recently signed by Saudi Pro League champions, Al-Ittihad, and were seen in a video sharing a lovely moment in training.

The France internationals seemed to be playing a game of tag. Both were trying to touch one another on the knee, and they seemed to be having fun.

In the background, their teammates were paired up to play the same game under the watchful eyes of head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Al-Ittihad posted the video on Twitter showing the two footballers sharing that fun moment in one of their first training sessions with the team.

The drill was probably aimed at improving the mental sharpness and quickness of the players, while also strengthening the bond among players as they prepare to defend the title they won last season, pipping Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.

One game to look forward to next season is former Real Madrid teammates, Ronaldo and Benzema facing each other. Meanwhile, Benz and Kante will look to rekindle their French connection ahead of the new season.

Saudi Arabia attracting top stars

In June, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) took control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League. Four founding members of the league, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr, were chosen.

The decision was to raise the revenue from $120 million in 2022 to over $480 million annually, per the Athletic.

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Their strategy appears to be poaching stars from Europe's top leagues to raise the profile of the competition. Since then, Ruben Neves, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marcelo Brozovic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have moved to the SPL after lucrative salary offers. Firmino will be Ronaldo's teammate at Al-Nassr.

By the end of the current summer transfer window, more players from Europe's top five leagues will definitely move to Saudi Arabia.

The PIF also owns an 80 percent stake in Premier League side, Newcastle United, and recently funded LIV Golf which challenged the PGA Tour.

Espirito Santo embraces Kante

Sports Brief also reported on Al-Ittihad coach, Espirito Santo warmly embracing Kante days after the 2018 World Cup winner joined the club.

A video clip of the former Wolves coach meeting with Benzema, Kante, and Diogo Jota in the club’s dressing room went viral on social media.