Saudi Pro League is ‘disrupting the industry, but we are disrupting to enhance,’ says SPL Director of Football
With some of the world’s leading soccer players being tempted by the money on offer from Saudi Arabian soccer clubs, the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) new Director of Football, Michael Emenalo, says the Gulf state is “disrupting the industry, but we are disrupting to enhance. We’re adding value to the industry.”
The Saudi Pro League consists of 18 clubs, four of which are 75% owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – one of the world’s top 10 sovereign wealth funds.
Cristiano Ronaldo, N’golo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez and current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema are just a few of players who have joined a variety of SPL clubs over the last few months.
It was PIF-owned SPL club Al Hilal which made the reported world record transfer bid of $332 million for France and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Kylian Mbappé in July.
“I don’t know if he doesn’t want to come. Maybe, he doesn’t want to come now,” Emenalo told CNN Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis.
“I wouldn’t say that’s been completely ruled out … I don’t think he’s made any clear statement to that effect.”
The reported huge salaries being offered to players and the transfer fees being paid for some of these stars by Saudi clubs could have profound effects on the transfer market.
With some of the world’s leading soccer players being tempted by the money on offer from Saudi Arabian soccer clubs, the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) new Director of Football, Michael Emenalo, says the Gulf state is “disrupting the industry, but we are disrupting to enhance. We’re adding value to the industry.” The Saudi Pro League consists…