Although a more prominent name in the football industry has repeatedly ended up in Saudi Arabia’s top league for years, the world has only really looked at the sportingly rather insignificant division since superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was lured to the Near East with the help of almost endless financial resources. The next world star recently followed with Karim Benzema, more are to follow – even Erling Haaland?
If you believe the renowned sports and economics expert Simon Chadwick, then the Saudi league’s offensive is anything but a flash in the pan. In an interview with “SVT”, the 58-year-old Englishman even put forward the thesis “that Haaland and others will play in Saudi Arabia long before they stop”.
Saudi Arabia is pursuing “a long-term plan” that aims to “gain as much influence as possible in the sports world,” Chadwick explains, adding: “The global sports economy is worth around $750 billion. Saudi Arabia wants a piece of it Have cake. Football is Saudi Arabia’s biggest sport, so it’s not like China where it disappears after a few years.”
European “Super League under Saudi rule” possible
Chinese football drew attention to itself a few years ago with some top transfers, but the league didn’t get a real boost – also because a maximum of three foreigners can be used per game.
According to Chadwick, Saudi Arabia will not impose these limits and will increasingly lure European football superstars with astronomical salaries in the future.
“They want to shake up the entire industry. Rumor has it that Saudi Arabia wants to buy up entire sports or set up competing leagues, as we have already seen in golf and cricket. This can also happen in football,” said Chadwick, who specifically cites the scenario that a “European Super League under Saudi rule” could emerge.