There has to be growing concern about the vast amount of money the Saudi Pro League is throwing at some of Europe’s top stars to sign lucrative deals with their Saudi clubs.
Here’s a clip from a recent AP article on the Saudi cash flow into their nation’s profesional football…”The PIF already owns Premier League club Newcastle and manages more than $600 billion of the oil-rich kingdom’s assets. Unlike the Premier League and other European teams, Saudi clubs are not bound by UEFA’s rules on spending, meaning there is no limit to the salaries the PIF can offer to lure top players to the Middle East. Aside from Al Nassr, it now owns a 75% share of Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Hilal, the Asian Champions League winner in 2019 and 2021″
The key line here is “Saudi clubs are not bound by UEFA rules on spending.” With that said, the billions of dollars the Saudi government, and it rich oil billionaires, are throwing at their pro league is beyond staggering. Obviously, the Saudis goal is to have one of, if not the top professional football league in the world.
Just look at their recent acquisitions. Neymar has joinrd Al Hilal with a staggering contract which includes a plane, a 25 bedroom home and a $200-million per year salary. Cristiano Ronaldo also has a sweetheart contract with Al Nassar, while French star Karem Benzema said goodbye to Real Madrid to sign with Al Ittihad. The one superstar they couldn’t pursued was Lionel Messi, who choose the MSL over the SPL.
In the Premier League alone, the list of top players moving to Saudi Arabia is impressive.
N’Golo Kante from Chelsea to Al Ittihad
Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea to Al Hilal
Eduoard Mendy from Chelsea to Al Ahli
Jordan Henderson from Liverpool to Al Ettifaq
Fabinho from Liverpool to Al Ittihad
Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City to Al Ahli
Robert Firmino from Liverpool to Al Ahli
Alex Telles from Manchester United to Al Ahli
Allan Saint-Maximiun from Newcastle United to Al Ahli
Ruben Neves from Wolves to Al Hilal
There are also reports the Saudis are courting Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
I guess, who can blame these players to head to Saudi Arabia for the big cash. These are once-in-a-lifetime deals that will set-up their families for the rest of their lives, and beyond.
However, there has to be concern about so many top players leaving Europe in general, and England specifically.
On top of all that, the Saudi Pro League is in talks with UEFA to be granted a wild card spot in the Champions League beginning in 2024 . If granted, would this mean the SPL would have to follow the UEFA spending rules? That would be a game changer.
I give the Saudis a ton of credit. They are doing everything they can to bring their pro league into the world’s spotlight.
So stand by, because this will be an interesting story to watch develop in the months and years ahead.
Cheers.
Gunner1953
Manchester City has lost five matches in a row in all competitions while being outscored 4 to 14. City will play Liverpool at Anfield on December 1st.
Nov 30 – West Ham United (A)
Ethan Nwaneri scored his first senior team goal for Arsenal v Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
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