Carrasco Ignores Human Rights Concerns in Saudi Arabia Following Move to Al Shabab

BRUSSELS — Yannick Carrasco, the Belgian midfielder, downplayed criticism of Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record after his transfer to Al Shabab from Atletico Madrid.

Carrasco, who is currently training with the Belgian national team ahead of the European Championship qualifiers, requested a news conference to explain the reasons behind his move.

Like many European stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, Carrasco made the move to the Saudi league in recent months.

When asked about the country’s human rights record, Carrasco disagreed with the criticism, stating that people may sometimes have negative perceptions. He mentioned that Ronaldo is living there with his wife and has a normal life, and he himself has witnessed how women live and how people go about their lives in Saudi Arabia.

Carrasco, age 30, revealed that he had only one year left on his contract with Atletico Madrid and received a concrete offer only from Al Shabab, despite speculations of a potential move to Barcelona.

He further explained that he chose security and considered his options in terms of his career. Carrasco emphasized that professionalism plays a role, and when opportunities arise, careful consideration is required.

Al Shabab announced that Carrasco has signed a contract until 2026, without disclosing the financial details of the deal.

When asked if he made the move for the money, Carrasco responded that it’s a profession and opportunity must be analyzed.

Although he expressed his happiness at Atletico and being in Europe, Carrasco decided to leave for his peace of mind. He shared a conversation with Axel Witsel, who was worried about getting injured during his final year at Dortmund. Carrasco felt a similar pressure during preseason matches, and when the offer came, he prioritized security.

Carrasco joined Atletico in 2015, winning the Spanish league title and the Europa League. After a two-season stint with the Chinese club Dalian Yifang, he returned to Spain in 2020.

Carrasco is the second Belgian player to join the Saudi league, following Jason Denayer’s signing with Al Fateh.