Saudi clubs look to shine at 2023 King Salman Club Cup in Abha

The start of a new football season moves a lot closer this week as the King Salman Club Cup, also known as the Arab Club Champions Cup, kicks off in the Saudi city of Abha on Thursday.

This year’s event is perhaps the most eagerly awaited in the tournament’s history, as it will give fans across the region a first look at some very famous international players in competitive action.

The group stage features four groups of four teams, with the top two from each progressing to the knockout phase. Among the 16 teams gathering in the southwest of the Kingdom are three that have been busy recently strengthening their squads and making headlines.

On the opening day, the eyes of many will be on Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, who won this tournament in 2005, when they were all-conquering in Asia, and reached the final in 2020.

The Tigers have been busy since lifting the Saudi Pro League trophy on the final day of the season at the end of May. Most notable was their early capture of reigning FIFA Ballon D’Or holder, Karim Benzema, as the French striker said goodbye to Real Madrid and hello to Jeddah and coach Nuno Santo.

There have been concerns about the fitness of N’Golo Kante in midfield but the former Chelsea star looks set to start on Thursday. Then there is Portuguese winger Jota, who arrives in Jeddah after a spell with Scottish champions Celtic.

Al-Ittihad’s opponents in their opening game are Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and the game should be a fine test for the Tunisian side. They are no strangers to big international tournaments, and have won this one three times and finished second twice, a record unequaled by any other team.

Rounding out Group A we have Club Sportif Sfaxien, also from Tunisia, and Iraq’s