The Saudi Pro League could be a blessing in disguise for the Premier League.
There is always a worry when new money comes into the game, and how it is used. There have been huge investments in the past as some lesser-known football nations have attempted a switch in power. The usual hotbed of football, Europe, has had to adjust to players leaving their teams for big money opportunities. More often than not though, it has been players that have been coming to the end of their careers. Therefore the lure of a last big payday is not a surprise, especially ones that have given their all and had a glittering career.
Saudi Pro League
Over the past year, the Saudi Pro League has invested huge amounts of money into players’ pockets, and the valuation of players has skyrocketed because of this. When Cristiano Ronaldo suffered an unhappy end to his Manchester United return, there were many question marks over where he could go to finish his incredible playing career. With the relative success of the World Cup in Qatar, it was inevitable, perhaps, that the region would want to keep the buzz going. And thus, when Al Nassr came calling with a contract that would pay close to £200m when all commercial aspects are factored in, it was an offer that even he couldn’t refuse.
At first, it seemed that this was more than just a capture of an aging player, and that of a football ambassador. Saudi Arabia is said to be looking into bidding on the World Cup in the next decade, and having a star name to help that push wouldn’t do that bid any harm.
However, this wasn’t just a one-off; more clubs were starting to be raided for their star names. Huge transfer fees were being paid, and this wasn’t for veteran players. This was new money, for talent that still has many years on the clock. It was becoming more common that it was becoming more obvious that this wasn’t for the prestige of being an icon in the Saudi Pro League; it was for the money being offered. The Saudi Pro League may yet prove to be competitive, but it is not the standard of Europe’s best, most especially in the Premier League.
Top manager wise to the Saudi plan
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, who has just guided his side to the Treble, knows that the landscape is changing. “Saudi Arabia has changed the market. A few months ago, Cristiano was the only one; no one thought this many top players would play in the Saudi League. In the future, there will be more, so clubs need to be aware of what is happening.
“They want to create a strong league, and so far, they are the league that can do it. I don’t know how long they will sustain it, but the feeling is that they will stay. The players want to take this experience to play in that league, and they can do it.”
What this does is inflate the value of players across the world. The money being spent on individuals is now on such an increase that it is now normal for a player to be sold for £100m. The flip side of this, though, is that the Financial Fair Play rules come into account, and teams have to strategize better when plotting their way through the choppy transfer seas. The money that comes in from the Saudis will help balance the books, that is, if you’re fortunate enough to have players that they want. Or see it as a marquee signing. The net spend is crucial for FFP, as is the length of the contract to help the flow of money being spent each year.
For now, though, we can expect the cash to be shown quite readily, as Guardiola suggests, but at the same time, it will serve to keep clubs more alert when adhering to the business rules. Only time will tell if this will see some more parity amongst the big teams in the Premier League.