Saudi funding has ‘modified’ switch market, says Guardiola

AFP / Jung Yeon Je

Saudi Arabia has modified soccer’s switch market of their bid to “create a strong league”, Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola stated after Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez left the Premier League membership to affix Al-Ahli.

Mahrez, who scored 78 objectives and made 59 assists for City in a trophy-laden spell on the membership, on Friday joined the Saudi Pro League facet for a reported sum of 35 million euros (AED 141.88 million) plus 5 million in add-ons.

Asked if he had wished Mahrez to stay at City, Guardiola advised reporters: “Definitely. I loved as a supervisor to be with him. I had a particular relationship with him…

“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,” the Spanish supervisor added, talking earlier than Sunday’s pre-season pleasant in opposition to Atletico Madrid.

“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.”

The Saudi Pro league has grow to be a gorgeous vacation spot for Europe-based gamers since Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr in January, with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, World Cup winner N’Golo Kante and ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson additionally shifting to Saudi.

City might additionally lose one other participant to the Saudi league, with Portuguese worldwide Bernardo Silva linked with a transfer to Al Hilal, in response to British media stories.

“They want to create a strong league, and so far they are the league who can do it…,” Guardiola stated.

“Right now, the Saudi league, I don’t know how long they will sustain it, but the feeling is that they will stay. The players want to take this experience to play in that league, and they are able to do it.”

City’s first match of the 2023-24 home marketing campaign after their pre-season tour is the Community Shield recreation in opposition to Arsenal on Aug. 6.