Premier League clubs fear Saudi Arabia's 10-year ruin will distort football market

Pictured at his Al-Ittihad opening, Karim Benzema is one of the Saudi Pro League's most vocal players. Credit: AP

Premier League clubs are gearing up for a decade of lavish spending by the over-ambitious Saudi Professional League (SPL), Telegraph Sport understands.

England's top football clubs are working on the understanding that the Saudis have enough money to continue scavenging talent from across Europe for the next 10 years as they seek to change the football landscape and avoid a fate like the Chinese Super League, as it turns out.

< p>Backed by the £600bn Government Investment Fund, which owns Newcastle United and the country's four biggest clubs, Al-Nasr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, — the Saudis want the SPL to become one of the best clubs in the country. 10 leagues in the world as part of the Vision 2030 program.

They have already managed to lure the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and tried to lure Kylian Mbappé after Al-Hilal made an extraordinary £259. million bet on French superstar amid bitter showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

Saudi Al-Nasr. Photo: Getty Images/Mohammed Saad. , as Premier League clubs have stated that they believe the SPL will operate predominantly in a different market.

But there are understandably concerns among the growing legion of top European clubs about the impact of the Saudi gold rush on contract negotiations on the continent as players become more powerful.

While the 24-year-old Mbappé gave there is little sign that he will want to move to Al Hilal as the striker is believed to be targeting a move to Real Madrid. more players in their prime.

Transfer fees and wages have continued to rise in recent years, and sources say there are worries about the inflationary pressure that SPL's generosity could have as top players are enticed by even better contract offers.

SPL believes that they are here to stay, and the prospect of a decade of heavy investment could see the league grow exponentially, even if comparisons to the Chinese Super League are inevitable.

Enormous money has been thrown into transfer fees and wages there since 2016, when President Xi Jinping announced his ambition to turn China into a «football powerhouse,» but such investment has ultimately proved unsustainable and the league has faced real challenges in the last few years. . years.

SPL is determined that things will be different in Saudi Arabia and have not wasted time flexing their muscles.

Ronaldo, 38, has joined Al-Nassr in a deal reportedly worth £175. million a year in December, just a few weeks after his ugly departure from Manchester United, and a host of celebrities followed suit in the seven months that followed.

Although Argentine legend Lionel Messi denied Saudi Arabia a move to Milan Inter in MLS USA, 35-year-old Benzema left Real Madrid for Al Ittihad in a famous £100m a year deal.

Riyad Mahrez, 32, left Manchester City just a month after the Treble win to join Al Ahly, who also signed Roberto Firmino, 31, following the departure of the Brazilian striker from Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson also look very happy to have joined the Saudi club. Credit: Reuters

More encouraging for Premier League teams is that the SPL has provided an opportunity to sell high net worth outcasts they might otherwise have struggled to relocate or earn hefty fees. Chelsea have certainly made the most of the new market that has opened up in the Middle East by sending three players to Saudi clubs.

Al Ahli has agreed a £16m deal with Chelsea for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Kalidou. Koulibaly moved to Al Hilal for £34m. N'Golo Kante, 32, joined Al Ittihad after leaving Chelsea on a free transfer last month in a deal reportedly worth up to £86m a year.

Managers are following developments in Saudi Arabia with interest, but Erik ten Hag does not believe that the SPL will affect the attractiveness of the Premier League for players.

«There is some money there and that attracts players,» said manager of Manchester United. «In Europe it matters.

«But at the moment I don't see it as a problem for the Premier League because that's where the big players want to play. And that doesn't put him in competition with leagues like America or Saudi Arabia.”

On the contrary, Pep Guardiola, the city manager, and his colleague from Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, believe that Saudi money has already changed the market.

“This is not a threat, this is a reality,” Guardiola said. “They want to build a strong league and so far they can do it. The Premier League has spent more than others because the organization is better and broadcasting (revenues) are higher. Right now with the Saudi Arabian league, I don't know how long they can last. But the players want to learn from this experience and play in this league. Saudi Arabia has changed the market.”

Klopp echoed Guardiola's sentiment and added that it didn't help that Saudi Arabia's transfer window wouldn't close until three weeks after the end of Europe's top leagues.

«It's huge at the moment,» the Liverpool manager said of Saudi Arabia's influence. “The worst thing I think is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open for three weeks longer. If I'm right, I heard something like that, then at least in Europe it doesn't help.

“UEFA or FIFA should find solutions for this. But in the end, at this point, I don't know exactly what will happen.»