Pep Guardiola’s Early Warning on Saudi Pro League: A New Reality for Premier League Giants
Pep Guardiola has long been a visionary in football, often seeing trends before others. This was evident when, two weeks before Premier League chief executive Richard Masters dismissed the Saudi Pro League as a non-threat, Guardiola was already acknowledging its significant impact on the football market.
Manchester City had a firsthand encounter with this new reality when Riyad Mahrez received an offer from Al-Ahli that the club felt compelled to accept, despite their desire to keep him. “It is not about a threat, it is a reality. They (Saudi Arabia) want to create a strong league and so far they are the league who can do it,” Guardiola said last July.
“Saudi Arabia has changed the market. A few months ago when Cristiano [Ronaldo] was the only one to go, no one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league. In the future, there will be more – and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening. Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we could not say ‘don’t do it’. Definitely our thoughts were for Riyad to stay here.”
Although Mahrez was past his peak, he was still valuable enough for the Premier League champions to want to keep him. His move marked a turning point for football stars considering their options. Despite Bernardo Silva’s longstanding desire for a new challenge in Europe, no club has met his valuation – though he rejected a move to Saudi Arabia last year.
Silva epitomizes the dilemma faced by City and their rivals in recent years. Every summer, top clubs have attempted to lure away key talents from the Etihad, but it wasn’t until the emergence of the Saudi Pro League that serious offers materialized.
City anticipated this trend even before Masters dismissed the competition. Now, marquee names like Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne are being targeted. Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo was invited to watch City train during the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia and later spoke with De Bruyne.
This development should raise concerns for the Premier League as more top players may be lured away. City understands that while they hope to retain their stars, they must be prepared for departures. Guardiola’s early warning a year ago underscored the need for all clubs to be vigilant.
The Saudi Pro League’s appeal has grown, demonstrated by players from the league competing effectively in the European Championship. This mirrors the success of golfers on the breakaway LIV tour against PGA competition.
The new market has provided opportunities that didn’t exist before. Aymeric Laporte’s move from City last summer, facilitated by the Saudi Pro League’s transfer fee, is a prime example. There’s already speculation that Matheus Nunes could leave after a disappointing first year at the Etihad, having initially been left out of Portugal’s Euros squad for a player from Saudi Arabia.
City is prepared for Saudi influence on their squad planning for next season. They should have strategies in place to ensure they benefit from the evolving market dynamics.
