The purchase of star players is only the beginning of the expansion of Arab football into Europe. The appetites of Saudi clubs are growing by leaps and bounds. MK-Sport explains why this is not so bad. For all.
Source: Reuters
Wizards of Oz
Arab football broke into the sports agenda like a Kansas tornado into the life of Dorothy Gale. It all started with the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Al-Nasr for absolutely fantastic money for the global football market. Of course, before the Portuguese strikers and other star players moved to the Arabian Peninsula, but this event was the first step on the yellow metal road to the magical land of fabulous oriental wealth. And you can snipe or resent as much as you like about the inexhaustible financial resource of local clubs and their owners, but the fact remains: the football world will no longer be the same.
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Over the next six months, after Ronaldo, many well-known representatives of European and American clubs. Even we got it: Malcolm’s transfer from Zenit to Al-Hilal became a record for Russian football, bringing St. Petersburg 60 million euros.
And now we are watching the live broadcast of the Arab Champions Cup final between Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal, in which Malcolm plays against Ronaldo, not to mention other stars. If a year ago we were told that for the sake of this broadcast, the game of the Russian Premier League between Krasnodar and Orenburg would be transferred from the federal channel to the paid channel, then such news would have caused bewilderment and smiles. But here it is, the new reality.
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In fact, it is quite simple to understand the order of numbers that the Arabs operate with one simple example, sorry for the tautology.
A Saudi fan of Al-Ittihad and a journalist, according to TG-channels, presented the Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who until recently was dusting for the English Liverpool, with a watch of one of the most expensive Swiss brands. Right in the mixed zone after the match, he stopped the player of the Brazilian national team and Al-Ittihad, and put this immodest little thing on his hand. The cost is about nine million rubles, in terms of our currency. Fabinho was delighted, embarrassed, thanked and moved on. Only and everything. Because he earns that kind of money in his new Arab team … in half a day.
We do not envy and do not count other people’s money. We are just illustrating.
Whether this is good or bad is also an abstract question. After all, as you know, demand creates supply. And if someone has a desire to part with their money, then why not take it? It’s just a deeper process. In the football world, as well as in the political world, multipolarity is emerging. After all, sport does not exist on another planet, but is in the same realities as the rest of our lives.
Previously, the most important center of power was Europe and UEFA. Now there is another center – Arabia. Of course, it is difficult to move old Europe, but the Arabs do not have such a task. They have their own, Eastern plans. And European clubs and national federations of the Old World are starting to take them into account.
Growing appetites
Here is the latest news as well.
Spanish La Liga and Visit Saudi signed a partnership agreement on August 16 to promote Saudi Arabia as a destination where “the passion for football is intertwined with the creation of links between cultures.” This is what they say in a joint statement after the signing of the document during the visit of representatives of one of the best European championships to this country. And former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, now a La Liga ambassador, adds:
“The great development of sports and sporting events in Saudi Arabia represents a new attractive proposition for this destination, complemented by its cultural interest and amazing scenery. I am confident that this new alliance will be successful in bringing together and attracting both football and sports fans, as well as new tourists and investors.”
However, this is so, trifles. Compared to what the Saudis really want to aim at.
The other day, the Italian newspaper Сorriere dello Sport reported that the Arab Football Federation is serious about asking the European Football Federation (UEFA) for a place in the Champions League for the winning team of the Saudi Professional Football League. More precisely, it does not even intend to, but is already negotiating.
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The Arabs are really serious about taking part in the most important club tournament in Europe starting from the 24/25 season. The Saudis already have two very prestigious international competitions such as the Arab Champions Cup and the traditional Asian Champions League. But sheikhs, spending hundreds of millions of euros on the purchase of star players, this is not enough.
The leaders of the Arab Football Federation in Riyadh themselves are still considering the format of participation in the form of a “wild card” following the example of tennis tournaments.
And it’s not a crazy idea. It has benefits for both Arabs and Europeans.
For the Arabs, this is an opportunity to “gain even greater international prestige, compete with the best clubs on the old continent and build on the experience and skills of clubs that are still immature in terms of corporate organization,” write the Italian colleagues.
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And what is the benefit for European football? The fact that the best players in the world who have moved to Arab clubs will again play in the Champions League. And this will increase interest in the tournament not only among fans, but also among sponsors. Including companies from the Arabian Peninsula, which also have huge financial opportunities, and from other Muslim countries. And this is the key point: UEFA really needs money. First of all, because of the growing appetites of the International Football Federation (FIFA). Whose leader, Gianni Infantino, at the last congress of his organization, unequivocally hinted at the need to seize the palm in the matter of working with sponsors from UEFA. So, as one famous saying goes, “loot can defeat evil again.”
We already wrote in one of the previous articles on this topic that this also has advantages for our Russian football. And the money received by Zenit for the transfer of Malcolm to Al-Hilal is another confirmation of this.
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Attacking midfielder Dominik Soboslai from RB Leipzig to Liverpool for €70m
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Attacking midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea to Manchester United for 64.2 million
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Defensive midfielder Sandro Tonali from Milan to Newcastle for 64 million
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RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea for £60m
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Defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Sporting to PSG for 60 million
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Striker Malcolm from Zenit to Al-Hilal for 60 million
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Right winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen to Aston Villa for £55m
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Goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter to Manchester United for 52.5 million
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2023-08-17 17:00:11
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