Coach Christian Streich believes that Saudi Arabia can polish its image by signing football stars for the local premier league. “It works without any problems,” said the 58-year-old coach of Bundesliga club SC Freiburg. When popular players play in the country, it gives “a positive image”.
“You can try to legitimize many, many political things through football,” said Streich: Through football you can get people to the point where things are less questioned. “Football is highly political – anyone who says otherwise hasn’t looked,” said Streich. It is “in no way reprehensible that they are trying to build a league in which a lot of stars play,” he also said.
After players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané, Neymar also switched to the Saudi Arabian Pro League. The four top clubs Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad were each taken over by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) this year at 75 percent.
The Saudi Pro League has had a major impact on the transfer market this summer with massive investments. “That’s how it builds up. The money goes on forever, it won’t stop,” said Streich.
The original of this article “Christian Streich’s speech on the Saudi transfers should make us think” comes from glomex.
2023-08-19 12:32:19
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