Saudi Arabian clubs have made huge signings in recent months, attracting some of Europe’s best players
Former Chelsea sporting director Michael Emenalo has defended the Saudi Professional League’s transfer policy amid accusations of “sports laundering”, Soccernet reported.
The Saudi Pro League has grown in importance in recent months due to its unique transfer strategy. League clubs have introduced a process to attract powerful European teams with large contracts. Most offers are prohibitively attractive, but since the game involves money, most players accept.
A classic example is Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Manchester United to join Al Nasr last December. The Portuguese star currently earns an astonishing €200 million a year with the Saudi side.
Since this agreement, the Saudi Pro League has seen an influx of players from Europe’s top leagues. Initially, they focused on older players, but also signed a number of young players such as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jota, Demarai Gray, and Henry Onyekuru.
They also tried to sign players such as Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah, but failed.
The Saudi league has been accused of sportswashing due to its bizarre transfer policy. But Emenalo, a former Nigerian international who is now the director of the Saudi Professional League, disagrees with the critics.
“Historically, I don’t understand what Sportswash has to do with Saudi Arabia’s transfer policy, because Sportswash is a part of progress for so many companies and different organizations. Because it was a club,” Emenalo said, according to Football Daily.
“Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is dedicated to providing quality entertainment to its citizens to participate in the football industry, which everyone considers to be a thriving industry. Because we have decided.” p>
“I think people can make it what they want, but that’s not how I see it.” I don’t think that’s the point here.
“From everything I have seen, from everything, from the strategies that have been implemented, I see no clear signs that this is anything but a desire to be one of the best leagues in the world. “Providing quality entertainment and leadership examples to the people of Saudi Arabia.”
Despite the criticism, Saudi Arabia’s professional league seems to be going from strength to strength. Most of their clubs already have a number of members who have played in mainstream Europe.
