Is it possible to purchase football fantasies with oil money? As the European football season approaches, the cash-rich shadow of the Saudi Pro League casts a long shadow
Cristiano Ronaldo was correct when he predicted that the Saudi league will eventually surpass the Dutch and Turkish leagues. The European leagues’ future is jeopardized.
“Whoever possesses Constantinople ought to rule the world,” Napoleon proclaimed. In football terms, it was Manchester City by the end of June 10. Europe has always been the beating heart of club football. And City, the English champions, were ultimately crowned European champions. It was the final piece of silverware missing from their trophy case, and they now had it. Making them, without a doubt, the finest football club in the world. Perhaps of all time. But, as the days passed and we got closer to the start of another football season around the sun, Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut wasn’t a hot subject in football circles.
The absences of club captain Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez were not a problem. The additions of players such as Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic had ensured that it was not the case. The ball had already left City’s court. The Saudi Pro League (SPL) comes into play.
With the start of the 2023/24 European football season this weekend, the shadow of Saudi Arabia looms huge over the horizon. SPL, which was barely known a year ago, sprang onto the scene with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last December, compelling the world to pay attention. For purists, Ronaldo’s declaration that “in a year, the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and the Dutch league” isn’t absurd.
As the summer transfer season opened this year, the Kingdom’s entire scope and endless monetary pull became clear. Top European talents from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and even Manchester City have begun to go. Big-name players flexed their muscles, from Karim Benzema to N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane to Marcelo Brozovic, and Riyad Mahrez to Steven Gerrard, demonstrating that the pull extended to managers as well. The most significant of them all, though, was not even a signing.
A mind-boggling €300 million-per-year proposal for Kylian Mbappe was undoubtedly the game changer. There was no roof to the ceiling in the Saudi Kingdom. Unlike their European counterparts, Saudi clubs were not obliged by UEFA’s spending restrictions; RIP, financial fair play. The volley launched following Ronaldo’s move escalated into a one-sided bidding war, and there was nothing European teams could do about it.
The sums on offer were unprecedented in the footballing world. After all, cash was coming from the sovereign wealth fund (PIF), which controlled 75% of clubs like Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal, giving the four access to virtually unlimited financial leverage. As a result of their private corporate ownership, SPL is less likely to follow in the footsteps of the Chinese Super League. It’s even less probable that it’ll be used purely as a retirement plan for some of Europe’s best at the conclusion of their careers. Ruben Neves, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Franck Kessie (all 26) are examples from the Saudi portfolio.
What are the prospects for European football?
Even as he praised the Saudi league, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, stated that he will never return to Europe since it “has lost a lot of quality.” “The only one that is still valid and doing well is the Premier League.” They are far ahead of the rest of the leagues.” After viewing the finale of the Bundesliga title battle last season, it’s difficult to argue with the Portuguese. The certainty of another Bayern Munich victory loomed big in the picture, regardless of how well Borussia Dortmund did to bring the league to the last day of the season. That is exactly what occurred.
The French League has long been dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, which is backed by another middle-east donor and has won nine Ligue 1 titles in the previous 11 years. Even while the Italian Serie A provides a glimpse of rivalry with three different winners in three seasons, they are usually always cash-strapped. Milan, for example, had to let go of Sandro Tonali despite finishing fourth in the league and ensuring Champions League football with a semifinal finish. And who did they trade their top midfielder to? The Saudi PIF owns Newcastle United.
In retrospect, the European clubs are solely to responsible for the rapid inflow of riches in the sport. For a long time, PSG and Manchester City have been inflating the market with large sums spent on single acquisitions. Manchester United and Real Madrid preceded them. Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG for €222 million in 2017 comes to mind. The acquisitions of Jack Grealish for €117.5 million from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021 and Declan Rice for £105 million from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023 follow this pattern.
So, where does this leave European football and its cast in the quest for relevance? It will take place without CR7 and Lionel Messi for the first time in 21 years. Even though the latter selected MLS, Saudi had gone to great lengths to urge him to join the old opponent. As was the situation with one of the heir apparent in Mbappe. Maybe it was his childhood goal of playing for Real Madrid that kept him going. To dress in the colors used by his idol during his heyday. To win a continental tournament, they had created their own, through years and years of nearly mythological performances. Under the floodlights of a football cathedral.
Saudi football Teams’ top Eight purchases
Four SPL teams, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al-Ittihad, have received $620 million from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The four have spent more than €420 million in transfer fees on arrivals throughout this window. (Al Nassr: €77.6 million, Al Hilal: €178 million, Al Ahli: €93.2 million, Al Ittihad: €75.8 million)
Here are the top eight purchases made by SPL teams this summer:
- Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad from Real Madrid for free.
- N’Golo Kante (free transfer) from Chelsea to Al Ittihad
- Riyad Mahrez moved from Manchester City to Al Ahli for €35 million.
- Sadio Mane (€30 million) from Bayern Munich to Al Nassr
- Liverpool sold Fabinho to Al Ittihad for €46.70 million.
- Jordan Henderson has moved from Liverpool to Al Ettifaq for a fee of €14 million.
- Roberto Firmino (free transfer) from Liverpool to Al Ahli
- Chelsea sold Edouard Mendy to Al Ahli for €18.50 million.
