Saudi Clubs Set to Invest Less in the Next Years, Sports Minister Says
The Sports Minister announced that clubs will be given less funds than in the previous years, as Saudi Arabia is reaching the second stage of its strategy.
Clubs like Al-Nassr and Al-Attihad regularly made the headlines in the last two years as they attracted football stars in Europe, including the likes of Neymar Jr, Cristiano Ronaldo, N’Golo Kanté and they even proposed to Lionel Messi to come. While the latter rejected them, more and more players in Europe joined Saudi Clubs, as they often offer a greater salary than their European counterparts.
But this time has come to an end. The Saudi Sports Minister also said that last summer was the main year, as clubs now will instead look to strengthen the squad and implement a different strategy. Most veterans from Europe arrived in Saudi Arabia with ridiculous wages, making it hard for clubs to move on. The strategy now focuses on sustainability – which will reduce the activity of clubs in the transfer market.
It’s no secret that the ridiculously high spending couldn’t last forever. By the looks of it, the era of caution has already started.
