Saudi Arabia Splashing The Cash

[PlayOnWords]

Saudi Arabian football teams have been snapping up footballers from Europe's top leagues and teams during this summer transfer window. Currently teams in the Saudi Pro League have spent a combined total of ~£200 million. The world-famous Cristiano Ronaldo already moved to the league at the start of the year and other household names in the world of football are following suit. It's interesting that Jordan Henderson, former Liverpool captain and outspoken activist for LGBT+ rights, has also made the move, coming under fire from Stage Green.

What consequences are there to Saudi Arabias motivation to become a football superpower? Prepare for rapid progression and strong ego backlash over the coming decades.

Saudi Arabian football team Al-Hilal have £257 million bid accepted for Kylian Mbappe:
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12928136/kylian-mbappe-transfer-paris-saint-germain-forward-not-interested-in-meeting-al-hilal-after-257m-world-record-bid

Article describing Saudi Arabias intention to become a top football league:
https://www.ft.com/content/629669b6-e011-49b7-a762-0fa5761d39e9

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by PlayOnWords

[Roy]

It's a free market they are open to offer players contracts if they want, don't see a problem.

[Consept]

This has happened before with the other more obscure leagues spending lots of money bringing in players. It doesn't seem to work consistently and I think it's because most names that go are edging toward the end of the careers and looking for a last big payday, this is case for Ronaldo, Benzema, Henderson etc. Aside from the big names the leagues are miles away from the European leagues. Europe and South America have a long history and massive infrastructure, as well population of developing world class players, this means even a c- list premier league player is way higher quality than the average Saudi league player. 

It would be hard to convince a world class player in his prime to go to Saudi even for all the money in the world, which is what they offered Mbappe (500m a year), there's no prestige in the Saudi league compared to Europe. So unless the literally but every top player to fill the league it eouldnt be sustainable as they don't produce any players. 

[Rafael Thundercat]

Survival 

[UnbornTao]

Relatively young players with a lot of unrealized potential mess up their careers by transferring to a minor league for the money. Not a very intelligent decision imo. It's not like they're struggling to survive in the first place. 

Mahrez and Mané will get transferred to the Saudi league, too. I don't think Mbappé seriously considered that offer from Arabia. It'd be crazy for him to do it.

Edited August 12, 2023 by UnbornTao

[Consept]

African players are often targets because they are usually carrying whole villages back home on their shoulders, so with the right offer they can do a lot of good. It's not great for their careers but I can see why they do it. 

[UnbornTao]

On 7/29/2023 at 6:57 PM, Consept said:

African players are often targets because they are usually carrying whole villages back home on their shoulders, so with the right offer they can do a lot of good. It's not great for their careers but I can see why they do it. 

Would they accept a transfer to Arabia if their salary remained the same or if it were slightly increased? Likely not. But I get your point of how they may also be doing good.

[PlayOnWords]

Some of the African players are deep Stage Blue too so it's a nice a fit.