H'Golo Kante joins the list of big name players moving to Saudi Arabia by signing with Al Ittihad
As Salaries in the Saudi Pro League have been leaked to Europe over the past two weeks, accompanied by a message of intent. In the lobbies of five-star hotels, Mediterranean beach clubs, and in the Royal Ascot's grand arena, football agents were told that the new superpower in the transfer market was not going anywhere.
The mediators have done well. the money of the Chinese Super League when it began to spend heavily in 2016, taking Carlos Tevez, Ramirez and Oscar to the Far East and poaching Graziano Pelle from Southampton to make him one of the highest paid players in the world.
£250,000 a week was negotiated before the bubble burst, and more recent Chinese Super League news came in 2021 when Jiangsu FC, the champions at the time, ceased to exist.
But over the past two weeks, brokers and player representatives studying deals in the Middle East say the atmosphere is different in Saudi Arabia. The country has an infrastructure that has hosted boxing, Formula 1 and, to use the analogy of football, entered the world of golf with two feet.
“People think it’s an outbreak, but they want to make it one of the biggest leagues in the world,” said one agent familiar with the Saudi market.Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a selfie with the hosts during the presentation of Al Nasr. Photo: Getty Images 
Karim Benzema welcomes his presentation as an Al Ittihad player. Photo: AP
By appointing Harry Cook, former Manchester City chief executive, as CEO, some expect the Saudi Professional League to follow the path of this season's treble holders in terms of signings when they were accepted; Galaxies at the start, like Cristiano Ronaldo or City's Robinho, but ultimately younger players at their peak, which is predicted to be in two or three transfer windows.
Cooke was appointed in January but has been linked with a position at Birmingham City. Who are the key agents in this new landscape? It would be tempting to say that Jorge Mendez made a somewhat unexpected move to Al Hilal after his client Ruben Neves. Helder Costa, his old Wolves and Gestifute stablemate, was already in Saudi Arabia on loan from Leeds United and Bernardo Silva is wanted in Saudi Arabia.
Client Mendez Nuno Espiritu Santo is also the manager of Al Ittihad. But it's not a monopoly, and Mendes isn't the only middleman in the city.
Harry Cook, former Manchester City chief executive, is currently the CEO of the Saudi Pro League. Photo: AFP/Ian Kington
In fact, it was believed that Mendez was not involved in the transfer of Ronaldo to Al-Nasr. December.
Other agents and agencies have also been involved in bringing the players into the country, such as Grzegorz Krychowiak (CAA Stellar), the initial loan of Ahmed Hegazy from West Bromwich Albion (New Era) and former United striker Odion Ighalo (Agent Lady Salami).
Helping the Saudi Pro League streamline the process with the help of intermediaries, they went for free transfers. Since no fees are negotiated between the clubs, no intermediary services are required at the other end of the deal. The Saudis can contact the players' agents directly to deliver them to the Middle East.
It is clear that getting players with Ballon d'Or and Champions League winners' medals into their collections included a system that went all the way to the top. According to sources familiar with the Saudi Arabian professional league market, clubs have been left to their own devices when it comes to relatively simple signings in which players earn between £2 million and £3 million a year.
But the signings are «designated player» would involve the club submitting a request to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sports, which decides on the player's value before funding is available to complete the deal. For agents, the key was the relationship with the presidents of the clubs making the requests.
The most important part of the process was the Saudi Ministry of Sports, led by Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud. “I can say that we have a strong league. He is not one of the strongest in Asia. We are moving towards a better future and we can see how it holds up,” Prince Abdulaziz said in an interview with Sky during last year’s World Cup, before the Ronaldo deal was struck.
The country's sovereign wealth fund, which owns Newcastle United, will also be a key player in making Saudi Arabia a destination for famous footballers. This month, it was announced that PIF has acquired four top Saudi Pro League clubs: Al Ittihad, Al Nasr and Al Hilal, the top three this season, as well as second-tier champions Al Ahly. .
A lot. more will be tempted by the wages offered, even if the amounts claimed are believed to be a mixture of base wages supplemented by commercial work for a fabulous salary. Romelu Lukaku turned down the offer, but Milan teammate Marcelo Brozovic, who played in the Champions League final a few weeks ago, is considering a move.
Sadio Mane is in the group of 30-year-old forwards who can increase the prestige of the league. He is available from Bayern Munich.
Chelsea elimination could continue after N'Golo Kante, with Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech, other European champions with fans. The goals will remain and Saudi Arabia is determined to make its competition credible.
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