Premier League to stop Saudi Arabia transfers
Gary Neville insist EPL to stop Saudi transfers, as many players from the league had joined Saudi Pro League In this summer transfer windows.
As per the information from the sources, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante have already joined the Saudi Pro League, But Lionel Messi after so many choices joined US club Inter Miami which made the great players of the league left Europe. N’Golo Kante join Al-Ittihad as his contract with chelsea expires at the end of June.
A numerous growing players are at their peak are attracting interests too, even mentioning Wolves captain Ruben Neves, Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey. It underlines the league’s ambition to be one of the top five in the world. on Summer Transfers, Arsenal agreed to sign Chelsea’s Kai Havertz for 65 million euros.
Ilkay Gundogan moves to Barcelona on a free transfer after his treble victory in the season. Neville is one of those who all are asking what all this potential activity means. In June, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, confirmed it was taking over four leading clubs in the country, including Al-Nassr, signing Ronaldo in December.
There is Uncertainity over whether PIF holds a stake in Chelsea’s ultimate owners, the private equity firm Cleaklake Capital, although club sources have rejected suggestions of any direct involment.
“The Premier League should put an instant embargo on transfers to Saudi Arabia to ensure the integrity of the game isn’t being damaged,” Neville on an interview.
“Checks should be made on the appropriateness of the transactions.
“If it comes through that process, obviously transfers could open up again. But I do believe, at this moment in time, transfers should be halted until you look into the ownership structure at Chelsea and whether there are beneficial transfer dealings that are improper.”
Neville’s questions about Financial Fair Play
Neville’s comments have come as Saudi Arabian spending in football increases, and as some English clubs face a challenge balancing their books. Both Chelsea and Wolves have been facing difficult decisions around recruitment this summer as they try to keep within the premier League’s three year limit on losses of £105m under Financial Fair Play rules.
Chelsea spent more than £400m in the transfers last season, while wolves have announced a loss last year £46.1 m loss last year and boss Julen Lopetgui said the club must solve their financial fair play issues to compete in the Premier League.
Wolves had thought Neves would join Barcelona this summer. However, the 26-year-old midfielder, who played for Portugal at last year’s World Cup, has instead agreed a lucrative deal to join Al Hilal for £47m, a far higher fee than anticipated.
Sources at Chelsea are adamant Saudi Arabia’s PIF has “zero interest, financial or otherwise” in the club. It has never been denied PIF have an involvement in Clearlake but it has been stressed the US private equity vehicle has 400 different investors across six continents and it is thought no shareholder is allowed to own more than 5% of the organisation.
Multi-club ownership is not prohibited by European governing body Uefa, which has so far refused to comment. The Premier League does have a fair value assessment system to try to ensure deals, both commercial and transfers, are conducted at market value. Fifa’s transfer matching system is designed to do similar.
The aim, ultimately, is to make sure the rules are followed. No easy task, given that markets fluctuate, and a player’s value can change.
Saudi’s Interest in players
Saudi Arabia has always had big interest in football – and a competitive league to go with it.
The national team have qualified for six of the past eight World Cups. They have won three Asian Cups – only Japan have more. In Qatar last year, all 26 members of the squad played for domestic clubs. No club have won the AFC Champions League more times than Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, with four victories.
“Saudi Arabia sees itself as being at the centre of a new world order and investing in sport helps contribute to that national positioning,” Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School in Paris, was quoted as saying recently.
Improving the Saudi Arabian league is part of that plan – with the help of high-profile names.
Former Leeds and Wolves forward Helder Costa, former Argentina international Ever Banega and former Watford and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo all featured last season, when Al-Ittihad, coached by former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, finished as champions.
