The Saudi championship, whose transfer window closes on Wednesday, has attracted many big names this summer, to the point of asserting itself as a major competitive player in European football.
The second stone of a revolution. Six months after formalizing the arrival of five-time Golden Ball winner Cristiano Ronaldo in his championship, Saudi Arabia struck a major blow this summer. As his transfer window closes on Wednesday September 20, the first conclusions of a transfer window paid at a high price can be drawn.
“This is the first time that an actor has entered the market in this way and so quicklyasks Loïc Ravenel, researcher at the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES). The money is unlikely to stop flowing to the Saudi side, so this seems set to last.” With no less than 956 million euros spent over the last period according to the specialized site Transfermarkt, the Saudi Pro League ranks second in terms of summer investments, behind the 2.8 billion of the English Premier League.
Europe in competition
On his hunt, big names like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad) or Neymar (Al-Hilal), but not only that. “The profile of the players attracted is more diverse than what China was able to do in the early 2010s with massive and irrational purchases, before an equally rapid decline. These are not just stars at the end of their careers , there are also major players like the former Lens player Seko Fofana.notes Christophe Lepetit, sports economist at the Limoges Center for Sports Law and Economics (CDES).
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End of August, signing at Al-Ahli of the Spanish nugget Gabri Veiga (21 years old), recruited from Celta Vigo, caused a lot of excitement. His name was associated with many major European clubs. Enough to make these teams of the Old Continent shudder about their capacity for long-term attraction?
“We have a phenomenon of competition with a new entity which, due to its incommensurable means, is becoming a danger on the transfer market for European clubs. Today, it is easier for a Saudi club to put 250 millions on the table than for most Europeans.”
Christophe Lepetit, economist at CDESat franceinfo: sport
In Saudi Arabia, four clubs – Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – are in fact directly financially supported by the Saudi sovereign fund (Public Investment Fund or PIF), which holds the majority of their capital. A state strategy which is part of the Vision 2030 plan aimed at transforming the Saudi economy and using sport to improve its brand image.
“Put money back into the machine”
Faced with criticism from many observers, Pep Guardiola, however, underlined the hypocritical posture of certain clubs in the face of the emergence of this championship. “Everyone complains about Saudi Arabia, but when the Saudi clubs knock on the door, everyone opens the door and rolls out the red carpet: ‘What do you want my friend? I’m selling everything!’ We can complain about everything, but everyone opens the door. In the English league as in the others”recalled the Manchester City coach at a press conference in mid-August, just after the signing of his Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez at Al-Ahli.
“The European system has also found its interest in this. Bringing in a player who becomes the second biggest spender is putting money back into the machine”judge Loïc Ravenel, highlighting an aspect “positive” for European clubs, who see the value of their players inflate.
“Saudi Arabia is not butter in the spinach, it is caviar in the spinach. Some clubs have rubbed their hands with their finances.”
Loïc Ravenel, researcher at CIESat franceinfo: sport
“In France, we are exporters of sporting talent, regardless of the player’s destination. If he goes to England for 20 million euros that’s good, if he goes to the Saudi Pro League for ten more that’s even better.” adds Christophe Lepetit, evoking a “sur-premium” Saudi clubs to attract elements.
No Champions League, a brake on development
Unlike their European counterparts, the Kingdom’s teams are not constrained by any financial fair play, as Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp deplored in particular during the summer, calling for the establishment of“a regulation”. If Fifa were to work on it, the Saudi championship would be deprived of its main asset.
In the meantime, the challenge for him is to manage to develop so that the level progresses sufficiently and that it maintains its power of attraction. “For the moment, the objective stated by the league is to join the top 10 in the world, recalls Christophe Lepetit. Even though players are capable of making rational choices based on their finances, they talk to you about the Champions League with stars in their eyes.”
“This is the big concern that will arise for the long-term integration of Saudi Arabia among the top leaguesalso agrees researcher Loïc Ravenel. There have been rumors that they wanted to join the C1, but UEFA seems against it.. Without an international club competition worthy of the name, Saudi Arabia knows that its representatives will still suffer for a while from the lack of exposure offered to the players. This should not, however, prevent them from continuing to invest such high sums in the next transfer windows.