The Saudi money alliance unexpectedly breaks off the transfer offensive

The Saudi money alliance unexpectedly breaks off the transfer offensive

In the summer of 2023, Saudi Arabia will pursue the most aggressive transfer strategy in the history of world football. They are investing around a billion euros in new players. There are many world superstars among them. The league director thinks the winter should be quieter and reveals concrete plans

The director of the Saudi Professional League (SPL) says the Saudi gold rush is over. In the summer of 2023, they invested almost 1 billion euros in transfer fees into European football and lured some of the best players to the desert. In the upcoming transfer window in January 2024, the league wants to focus on developing some stars at the “highest level” and otherwise keep a low profile.

At first glance, this might seem like good news for clubs in Europe’s top leagues, but it doesn’t change Jürgen Klopp’s predicament. He signed a contract with Egyptian Mo Salah from Liverpool Football Club and became the Saudi team’s biggest transfer target. Already this summer, Etihad increased its offer for the 31-year-old almost every minute until the final day of the transfer window, when the final offer was reportedly over €170 million.

Al-Ittihad is one of four clubs in Saudi Arabia that actually have what Uli Hoeneß spoke about in an interview with RTL/ntv. Like Al-Nassr (Sadio Mane! Cristiano Ronaldo!!!), Al-Hilal (Neymar!) and Al-Ahli (transfer expenditure of 187.5 million euros), they are all financed by the Saudi investment fund PIF Control. After 13 match days there is only one club left in the league between the PIF clubs, Al-Taawoun FC from Breida.

“Our work is exciting and aggressive”

Even without the injured Neymar, Al Hilal are at the top with 35 points, followed by Ronaldo’s Al Nas Er with 31 points. Only Al-Ittihad FC from Jeddah handed over to World Player of the Year Karim Benzema in Salah’s absence in the summer and are currently only in fifth place with 24 points; Al-Ittihad FC, which is slightly ahead, has 26 points. -Ahly took third place.

SPL director Michael Emenalo always talks about these emerging super clubs when he says that almost all clubs are catered for. “We will provide reinforcements at the highest level,” said the 58-year-old Nigerian, who signed with Trier as a player in the 1993/1994 season before working as an official at Chelsea, as a director and at Monaco.

“I hope we don’t have too much to do in January,” Emenalo said in an interview on the league’s website. “Our work so far has been very exciting and very positive. Most clubs have everything they need.” If not, then they are back in the money pot.

Hoeneß warns of a double attack

But the plans had long since changed and it was a first day that was drawn by Hoeneß. “They are trying to buy world-class players and create the right structures for football,” Bayern’s honorary president told RTL/ntv. This distinguishes Saudi Arabia from China, whose soccer program enjoyed a brief resurgence in the mid-2010s. Makes headlines and then quickly disappears without a trace.

Saudi Arabia does not want to and will not disappear. This was confirmed by Gianni Infantino, a permanent guest in Saudi Arabia. Last month, the FIFA president committed Saudi Arabia to hosting the 2034 World Cup in an opaque fast-track process. Although it has not yet been officially confirmed, there is no doubt except in non-existent revolutionary circles of football that it will be awarded in the last quarter of 2024. Then all the annoying formalities are completed.

SPL’s current efforts are also targeting this game. In addition to star players from Europe, they also want to develop their own stars in order to send a team to the 2034 World Cup that can not only beat Argentina in a game like Qatar in 2022, but can also stay in world football. cup for a long, long time.

“We are now attracting world-class players and we know we are also attracting local players who want to reach that level. In their club and national team,” Emenalo said. “To go in this direction, we need to bring our infrastructure to the highest level.”

He has already observed this in Great Britain. Foreign world-class players improve the overall level of football and ultimately produce local world-class players. It’s that simple, but to achieve that you have to let the players grow, give them opportunities and let them develop in the academy. “I have always said privately and publicly that top football players are incredible and unique artists. “You can only dream of what they can do until you try it yourself and realize that it’s possible,” enthuses Emenalo. How difficult. “These are exceptional artists who will grow tremendously over time among the youth of this country. “Appreciate and copy it, it will benefit everyone.” Anyone interested in Saudi football. Anyone who visits an SPL stadium now and sees “The Artist”.

“The ‘Saudi’ Hoeneß admitted to RTL/ntv that he seems really determined to dominate world football. Rumors from the usually well-informed The Times suggest that this assumption is more than just alarmism.” This week they reported on FIFA’s new main sponsor. The Saudi oil giant Aramco is reportedly preparing for an annual sponsorship of around 100 million euros. At least until 2034. This is also the real goal of all football efforts in Saudi Arabia.

Those: www.ntv.de