Saudi Pro League’s Signing of Michael Emenalo Set to Take the League to the Next Level
The Saudi Pro League’s vision seems to go beyond signing well-known players. Former Chelsea Technical Director Michael Emenalo is set to become the League’s director of football. The Saudis hope his prowess at talent scouting and development will help them identify young talents. Such a move will be critical to the League’s long-term sustainability.
During his Chelsea tenure, Emenalo is credited with signing players such as Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois, and N’Golo Kante. However, his crowning achievements were the early identification of Premier League winner Mohamed Salah and five-time Premier League winner Kevin De Bruyne.
So how will his signing take the Saudi Pro League to the next level? According to five-time Ballon d’Or winner and current Al-Nassr FC player Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi League is now bigger than the MLS. While the statement’s accuracy remains to be seen, it expresses a clear path that Emenalo will no doubt be instrumental in charting.
With Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League can nurture local and regional talent. This is bound to make the clubs sustainable as they’ll spend less and less on acquiring already established talent.
