Clubs from the Saudi Arabian Pro League have made European leagues, especially the Premier League, their hunting grounds for top football talents.
Clubs like Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli among others have already signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, and N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), and both Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson from Liverpool.
The Premier League has previously been the go-to league for top players, but the Saudi Pro League is increasingly having the same pull, thanks to their big financial muscle that has ensured they flex with top European clubs in terms of transfer fees and salaries for players.
As such, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Saudi Arabia’s investment is now in direct competition financially with the Premier League and could impact what is believed to be the biggest league in the world.
“It is not about the threat; it is a reality. They want to create a strong league and so far, they are the league that can do it. The Premier League spent more than the other because the organisation of the Premier League is better and the broadcasts and the sponsors are higher than the other leagues, so the clubs can spend what they have,” Guardiola was quoted as saying by The Athletic.
He continued: “Right now, the Saudi league, I don’t know how long they will sustain that, but the feeling is that they will stay. I would say the players want to take this experience to play in that league and they are able to do it.”
Guardiola also said that when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January this year, no one thought many other top players would go to Saudi Arabia but by the look of things, this is going to happen more and that “all the clubs need to be aware of what is going to happen because in the end Riyad got an incredible, incredible offer.”
Manchester City have already lost winger Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli and Guardiola said he didn’t want to let him go.
