Is Saudi Football a threat to the European leagues?

opethdisciple

opethdisciple

opethdisciple

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So I am noticing now that a lot of players who are in their prime are deciding to go off and play in the Saudi Pro league.

I understand players who are in the last few years of their footballing careers and want one last big payday going to the MLS etc... but the Saudi League signing players who are still in their prime and who would have otherwise gone off to play for a European team I think is a major risk to the European Leagues imo.

It was Arsene Wenger who years back warned that the Chinese League was going to be the one to challenge Europe for the best league but it never materialised, however I argue we are actually seeing it now with the likes of Ruben Neves, Mendy, Bernado Silva possibly Tomas Partey all deciding to go to play in Saudi Arabia.

The other problem is the amount of money in Saudi Football. Those clubs can blow any European team out of the water when it comes to transfer fees and wages.

This could have a dangerous effect on European football.

We in Europe have to abide by the financial fair play laws, but I imagine there is no such thing in Saudi Football so how on earth are we going to compete if the Saudi teams want to buy top European talent?

I imagine at some point UEFA and the governing bodies of each European League will eventually need to have a sit down and think about this situation because it will have a big effect on European football both good (selling clubs) and bad (top talent going to Saudi football rather than Europe) at some point.

Imagine if Bellingham hadn't of gone to Real Madrid but was signed by Al Hilal instead.

100 million transfer fee and £500k a week wages. (basically whatever Madrid offer we will offer more)
 
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It would only be a threat if they lure players there in the hundreds and that'd cost billions as the only reason most of them will go there is to be on inflated wages they'd never have seen otherwise.
If they pull that off I'd at least watch some matches if Neymar etc decide to move over there while still being at a world class level.

I can also see PIF or something like it being instrumental in a power shift away from UEFA (Another European Super League attempt) but we shall see if the EU Courts allow it or not.
 
opethdisciple said:
This is just the beginning though. Over the course of the next 5-10 years as more and more players go over there the league will get more competitive.
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If they sustain the crazy money for a decade or so and can lure in world class talent during their prime, we can have a conversation then.

Every player looking for retirement **** you money must be begging their agent to get them a deal there :cry:
 
The only way I can see it working is if they invest from the ground up - world class academies and training facilities, world class youth coaching, and everything else. If they do that, and can start attracting talented 10-15 year olds and their families, then maybe.

But just buying players who are willing to sell out, in exchange for facing few other decent teams, no local footballing culture or history, etc, is never going to work. You'll get the odd player going for the money but most will stay in genuine football countries.

The only way to build this is from the ground up, and that's not what they're currently doing. It's a 20+ year project.
 
No because a) the Premier League is English which is major attraction to the world since it is the most spoken language. b) Premier League has access to European competitions.

Saudi League cannot do either of those so it will go the same way as the Chinese league.

I could however see the Saudi National team going up in levels if they invest in their youth as well.
 
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What you've described is essentially what the EPL is doing anyway isn't it? Look at the fees EPL teams play for players.

Why can't Saudi have a football league? They own half the world (and football teams) as it is.
 
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sigma said:
What you've described is essentially what the EPL is doing anyway isn't it? Look at the fees EPL teams play for players.

Why can't Saudi have a football league? They own half the world (and football teams) as it is.
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Because we have done this over decades and other teams in Europe 100% compete on transfers. The difference in the PL is that all the teams are relatively wealthy whereas in Spain, France and Germany most of them aren't bar the top few.

SA can have a league but they won't be competing in the CL, they will take a long long time to make it even competitive and for a long time any player that goes there will become irrelevant. They won't get picked for their national team unless they are already a star player and sponsors probably won't like it as much.

There are many barriers to them having a top tier league in SA.
 
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I think you're missing the point. This is just the beginning.

Every snowball starts out small when you start rolling.

If they can convice a couple of players this season, 5 next, 10 after that, 20 then 40 etc etc... then in no time at all they will have loads of top players in their league over then next 5+ years.
 
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opethdisciple said:
I think you're missing the point. This is just the beginning.

Every snowball starts out small when you start rolling.

If they can convice a couple of players this season, 5 next, 10 after that, 20 then 40 etc etc... then in no time at all they will have loads of top players in their league over then next 5+ years.
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And they will have spent billions to still be irrelevant. The PL has probably a hundred plus top players. The best players will still stay in the top European leagues or pull an Mbappe and rinse a club for a few years before refocusing on their careers.

I have less than no worry about this.
 
It is difficult to shift the established organisations in something like this, unless they screw up themselves in some destructive way, a newcomer might become successful but it would be many many years before replacing the legacy of the first/established movers.

The other aspect is there are plenty more players where they come from - though the best players tend to rise to the top and would be creamed off SA wouldn't be draining the talent pool - there are still many players who might have made it to greatness but miss out on the opportunities or get lost in the noise, etc. as things stand - SA nabbing some players would just open up more opportunities for others.
 
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