Is that the same PIF that owns Newcastle? So that means, Newcastle can get some young Saudi players into their academy, and then sell them for 25-30 million to those clubs, thus bypassing FFP.
I don’t think it would go well with any of the 4 clubs mentioned here… If I understand it well, the founding associations of these clubs will keep 25% of ownership and keep some power… More likely they’d be able to help them offload some deadwood that could be useful over there and doesn’t look too suspicious.Is that the same PIF that owns Newcastle? So that means, Newcastle can get some young Saudi players into their academy, and then sell them for 25-30 million to those clubs, thus bypassing FFP.
They don't care about being sustainable: this is just a PR stunt for them to be contenders to organize a WC20 billion, and then what?
You need to have sustainable income to operate as a big club. China learned it the hard way.
You need a global following, history and prestige to attract new fans.
Saudis are weird bunch.
If it doesn't stop them from getting other players that improve the team, why would the fans care? I don't know if they have some sort of FFP locally, which would stop them from spending whatever they want.I don’t think it would go well with any of the 4 clubs mentioned here… If I understand it well, the founding associations of these clubs will keep 25% of ownership and keep some power… More likely they’d be able to help them offload some deadwood that could be useful over there and doesn’t look too suspicious.
PIF would need an entirely plastic club with no fans and no involved third party to really operate such blatant money laundering scheme for the benefit of N’Castle.
No chance. As long as Saudi Arabia is a totalitarian fanatical state no star in his prime will go to the Saudi league over a top European side, you might get an Oscar or two but they'll continue paying small fortunes for past their prime stars.How fecking funny would it be if the greed of the prem to take in dirty bloodstained money resulted in all the worlds best plahers going to Saudi.
You just need success. Kids that getting into footy at a young age often don't care about the rest.20 billion, and then what?
You need to have sustainable income to operate as a big club. China learned it the hard way.
You need a global following, history and prestige to attract new fans.
Saudis are weird bunch.
You underestimate the power of money. Of course if the difference is £10m a year in England and £15m - £20m in Saudi Arabia many players will choose the former, but when it becomes £50m a year in Saudi or even £100m, majority will use the opportunity to cash in and go there.No chance. As long as Saudi Arabia is a totalitarian fanatical state no star in his prime will go to the Saudi league over a top European side, you might get an Oscar or two but they'll continue paying small fortunes for past their prime stars.
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They'll pull down St. James' Park and rebuild it in Jeddah. All the barcodes home games will be played there with only Saudi officials in charge.20 billion, and then what?
You need to have sustainable income to operate as a big club. China learned it the hard way.
You need a global following, history and prestige to attract new fans.
Saudis are weird bunch.
We're going back close to a decade though and at the time the figures were equally ridiculous.Chinese league was nowhere near these numbers.
The figures were wild but a decade does not make the two comparable.We're going back close to a decade though and at the time the figures were equally ridiculous.
Tevez was getting 650k a week, Lavezzi was on 800k a week, with inflation its close to 10m a week if you use the price of Freddo bars as the barometer.The figures were wild but a decade does not make the two comparable.
Paying Graziano Pelle €200k/week a decade ago, and paying Kante €2m/week tax-free now is nowhere near equal.
No but it's the same idea and the players go for the same reasons. Few if any enjoy it and because it's unsustainable it's very likely to collapse within a few years.The figures were wild but a decade does not make the two comparable.
Paying Graziano Pelle €200k/week a decade ago, and paying Kante €2m/week tax-free now is nowhere near equal.
Tweet
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Was just talking about the money. It’s going to be extremely difficult for players to turn that down.No but it's the same idea and the players go for the same reasons. Few if any enjoy it and because it's unsustainable it's very likely to collapse within a few years.
It's been done many times before, from the US through to Russia, China and now the Saudis. Only the US finally figured out that it doesn't work and that the key to building a successful football product from the ground up is investing in grass roots.
That is nonsense, every single person would triple/quadruple their earnings if given the opportunityDaft of Zaha to go there, i get its ridiculous money but he's hardly going to be short by staying in the prem, yet is playing a far higher standard of football. Ridiculous decision imo.
Absolutely. Part of me doesn't blame them but another part thinks the football world should blacklist them like golf has do... OhWas just talking about the money. It’s going to be extremely difficult for players to turn that down.
15M a year is about 300/week. That’s probably 3 times his current wage. But still not worth throwing away his career. I believe Zaha can still get good offers in Europe.Tweet
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This could be a decent summer for the Saudi league.
Zaha can increase his earning. And get a taste of a bigger club in Europe before joining Saudi Arabia…. He will stil be good enough for Saudi in 3/4 years time. No need to go there now.That is nonsense, every single person would triple/quadruple their earnings if given the opportunity
I've got to be honest, that is the most ridiculous contract of all of them so far. He has nowhere near the profile of any of the others, or the ability any more to justify that kind of wage
Meh - good player but never going to play for a ‘big’ club. Will still get called up internationally and gets paid life changing money.Daft of Zaha to go there, i get its ridiculous money but he's hardly going to be short by staying in the prem, yet is playing a far higher standard of football. Ridiculous decision imo.
That's nonsense.That is nonsense, every single person would triple/quadruple their earnings if given the opportunity
Completely agree. At his level of wealth unless he has terrible people around him and has spent it all, he should be sitting on a fortune - yes it's nice to add to it but in Europe he'll easily be getting net £4-5m a year plus all the benefits that come with being in a CL club (which I assume is his aim) for his image rights, social media and 'brand'. On this, Ronaldo lost a lot over a million followers on instagram after his move to Saudi*, it simply is a less relevant and watched league and he used to make more money from social media than his actual football salary at Juve**, I assume also at United.That's nonsense.
