So what do you think the future of the Saudi Pro League is? One year flash in thr pan of them throwing money around to get the best worldwide talent (especially aging players just looking for a mega payday?)

Or will there be a seismic shift of the best talent chasing $$$ in the desert?

ChipFTAC01 said:

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So what do you think the future of the Saudi Pro League is? One year flash in thr pan of them throwing money around to get the best worldwide talent (especially aging players just looking for a mega payday?)

Or will there be a seismic shift of the best talent chasing $$$ in the desert?

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End game. Saudi World Cup. New league with the house of Saud having a seat at the head of the table.

I know they wanted to bid on the 2030 world cup to be in Saudi Arabia. And they're paying a ton to Messi as a tourism ambassador as well. Approaching it from all angles it seems.

Ronaldo and Newcastle are just the start. Its interesting how many players are linked to Saudi club transfers.

Saudi pulled its 2030 bid. Although the Ronaldo, Kante, Benzema, etc. signings before yesterday might've been a push for the WC, all others are to reinforce/promote the league. We shall see if it works. Hell, Chelsea just sent half its team to the desert.

Al Ittihad are closing in on deal to sign Celtic star Jota! Agreement is being discussed between all parties and it’s now very close. Still not signed. 🚨🇸🇦 #transfers

Jota, keen on the transfer — waiting to discuss final contract details. pic.twitter.com/3UOwHlDe3K

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2023

A little different type of acquisition for the Saudis. 24 years old and ready to make a move to the Premier League (or similar in a top 5 league). A once Benfica prodigy that fell off after some initial speed bumps and a disappointing La Liga loan spell. Celtic bought him after a loan-to-buy deal for 6m GBP with a 30% sell-on and he's really found his form back.

Now signing Steven Gerrard as Manager. Big name player, but a bit of a poor career as a manager so far

Official, completed. Steven Gerrard has been appointed as new head coach of Etiffaq. 🇸🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #SaudiLeaguepic.twitter.com/NKLYsuL1HX

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2023

Robbie Fowler too.

It's doomed to fail, I'm not watching that crap

My Dad was offered a pretty wild contract to breed horses in Saudi Arabia that I think he sometimes wishes he'd have taken. Biggest issue was uprooting his family and moving us over there to the ME right after 9/11.

The players in the premier league kneel for equality. Saudi's offer money, and it's ok that their are almost no human rights there.

Very disapointed in Gerrard.

La Bamba said:

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I ain't watching that crap. But do I blame the players? Heck no. I'd take the money too. Although living in Saudi sucks. But with that much money it doesn't matter.

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For an average person. But like you said, it probably doesn't suck for a professional footballer or their family.

So let's bring this one up again,as there's been several developments.

https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/saudi-pro-league-pif-al-nassr-hilal-ittihad-ahli-takeover-privatisation-aramco-neom/?zephr_sso_ott=25piqe

This might be bigger and more sustainable than most think. The Saudi PIF, or sovereign wealth fund, is backing 4x teams currently: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli. Aramco also has a stake in this. Signings so far:

Al Hilal:
- Neymar
- Ruben Neves
- Kalidou Koulibaly
- Sergej Milinkovi-Savi
- Malcom
- Bono

Al Ittihad:
- Benzema
- N'Golo Kante
- Fabinho
- Jota

Al Nassr:
- C. Ronaldo
- Sadio Mane
- Anderson Talisca
- Marcelo Brozovi
- Alex Telles

Al Ahli:
- R. Mahrez
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Franck Kessie
- Edouard Mendy

And a few other good players outside the top 4 teams like Jordan Henderson going to Al Ettifaq.

Has the Saudi League surpassed the MLS in star power and overall league talent?

Most of the players are entering the back end of their careers, but some aren't and I think that's where you have to start to be concerned. Personally, I'm not going to go out of my way to watch it because there are multiple better, more competitive leagues out there.

But if they continue to offer insane wages and turn the heads of younger, prime players, nobody can stay with them in terms of finances.

I know there's been rumored talks of them wanting to be included into the Champion's League and I could also see them helping bankroll another attempt at a Super League. Either way, I don't think its very good for the game.

ChipFTAC01 said:

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I've seen the comparison made but the Saudis have real F-You money to throw around. Not pretend money.

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(Accidentally posted before writing anything.)

I was on a self-imposed ban when this was originally posted, but I do want to chime in because I find it fascinating. To me the Saudi-Chinese analogy doesn't hold water.

Beyond money - there are multiple other reasons to think this could succeed where the Chinese failed. Two big ones are:

1) The Arab & Muslim world loves soccer and a successful Saudi league would become a beacon for them. That helps in terms of both recruiting players and having a baked-in fanbase. The Chinese give two craps about soccer, and the "if you build it they will come" mantra didn't really help build one there.

2) Timezone... Saudi games can easily make primetime slots around Europe, so they can get a massive TV audience well beyond their borders. China absolutely could not do this (or at least, not without sacrificing their domestic viewers' primetime).


What's more fascinating to me from a geopolitical standpoint is that this choice of their crown prince to invest $10B in the league defies what authoritarian regimes ought to want to do. They're voluntarily opening themselves up to the world. Couple this with the NEOM "Line" project and it's clear that the powers-that-be there want to join the global community... which is exactly the opposite of what hardline Islamists want. And it's the opposite of what any authoritarian regime ought to want, regardless of religion. There may be a turbulent couple decades for them if this backfires politically.

If this fails, I think it will fail for political reasons. I think as a football league on its own merit, it has plenty of reasons it could succeed.

If you truly understand who's in charge of Saudi, no one would think it's run by hardline Islamists anymore. MBS is an ambitious as hell Millennial with more money than God who likes Pitbull and Afrojack. Saudi Pro League, Newcastle, Uber, LIV golf...just a few of their PIF investments. These guys are not playing around.

Numbers these ridiculous deserve a thread bump, even if they're just wild rumors.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Vinicius Jr's representatives have discussed an annual salary of up to $382.5m.

Real Madrid would also expect to receive Vinícius' buyout clause, which stands at €1 billion. pic.twitter.com/P4F87mfOFn

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 13, 2024

Vini in a few years?

I'd sell him in a heartbeat for that. Love Madrid but that's a windfall for us and he's going to be fed up with the competition level and lifestyle real quick.

AGC said:

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I'd sell him in a heartbeat for that. Love Madrid but that's a windfall for us and he's going to be fed up with the competition level and lifestyle real quick.

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Yeah, that's unreal money for RM and would ruin competitiveness in La Liga and UCL.

From Vini's perspective, it's a no-brainer.

deadbq03 said:

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AGC said:

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I'd sell him in a heartbeat for that. Love Madrid but that's a windfall for us and he's going to be fed up with the competition level and lifestyle real quick.

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Yeah, that's unreal money for RM and would ruin competitiveness in La Liga and UCL.

From Vini's perspective, it's a no-brainer.

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Now now, it's not quite man city money but…

deadbq03 said:

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AGC said:

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I'd sell him in a heartbeat for that. Love Madrid but that's a windfall for us and he's going to be fed up with the competition level and lifestyle real quick.

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Yeah, that's unreal money for RM and would ruin competitiveness in La Liga and UCL.

From Vini's perspective, it's a no-brainer.

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Unless he performs poorly and they execute him for being Catholic