Barcelona president slams Ronaldo and Benzema over Saudi Pro League transfers
Suraj Radia
- 3 Aug 2023 12:52 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at the star players that have joined Saudi Arabian teams this summer, insisting that there are ‘no sporting reasons’ to make the move.
The likes of Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino have made lucrative transfers to Saudi Arabia this summer in a revolution that has seen the country spend more than €500 million on player fees alone.
The shift is part of a new level of investment from the Saudi government, which has seen the state fund top level clubs in order to lure the biggest global stars to the country and grow the domestic game.
DONE DEALS: All the transfers from Saudi Pro League sides this summer
Laporta stated he respected the Saudi government’s decisions but that football is primarily a team sport and that the players are choosing their destinations based on ‘other reasons’ instead of the sport.
“Fortunately, most of the players like Football Club Barcelona,” Laporta told CNN. “They like our club for the way that we manage the club, for the kind of players that we had in the past and in the present.
“And when a player, and with all respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, basically there are no sporting reasons. You know, there are other reasons that are the priority. And the football must be the priority – the sporting reasons must be the priority.”
Saudi Arabia taking the transfer window by storm
Saudi Arabian football first generated headlines in January when Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo following his dramatic exit from Manchester United.
Lionel Messi was also approached prior to his move to Inter Miami, while Kylian Mbappe refused talks with Al-Hilal despite Paris Saint-Germain accepting a €300m bid and a contract of €700m per year on the table.
PROBLEMS: Jurgen Klopp warns Premier League rivals of worst outcome from Saudi transfers
Players have been offered lucrative pay rises to join Saudi clubs, with stars such as Ruben Neves, Allan Saint-Maximin and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic making the moves despite being in the prime of their careers and, in some cases, having European offers on the table.
The movement is part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to regenerate their image and bring tourism to the country, with a belief that investment will continue for many years to come.
