or to join or start a new Discussion

Articles/all comments
These 65 comments are related to an article called:

Saudi Arabia moves

Page 2 of 3

posted on 19/6/23

Yeah it is a good point. People do seem to forget that a large number of players go to crap PL teams because of money, leaving top European sides like Porto, Ajax etc.

Maybe these players aren't at Wolves for the romance of the PL, the chance to play for the biggest trophies. Maybe they are just at these nothing PL clubs just for money in the first place.
———-
Very true.

posted on 19/6/23

Like if you have a hot wife and you think she is just with you because of your amazing personality and the fact that you are a millionaire has nothing to do with it.

Then a billionaire comes along and she leaves you for him, but you thought it could never happen because she is with you for love, not money. Why would she leave you for someone she didn't love like she loves you? SHE LOVED ME!!! I swear she did. She wouldn't do this. She is different. It was genuine. AHHHHHH

The billionaire is not threat to me because she is with me for the right reasons!!

posted on 19/6/23

Pretty peculiar that they are signing up Chelsea players and giving them decent fees.

posted on 19/6/23

This could be a huge problem for the Portugese and Russian clubs who benefit from relaxed work permit rules by signing up young Brazilians / South American / African players before selling on at a huge profit.

After a year or 2 in Saudi, a player could 'afford' to sign for a club that means something to them / will get game time at, rather than sitting on the bench at one off the traditional big paying clubs of Europe.

Many Brazilians for example, could do 3 years in Saudi then return to Brazil rather than having to spend10 years in Europe to earn the same amount.

posted on 19/6/23

You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.

posted on 19/6/23

comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 25 seconds ago
You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course they can. Different football bodies and competitions.

posted on 19/6/23

comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 58 seconds ago
You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably something to take up with Europe's football federation.

posted on 19/6/23

comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 1 minute ago
You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That's like saying you think all European Leagues should get the same TV money to ensure there is a level playing field.

posted on 19/6/23

Would suspect it will allow the European elite sides to push back on FFP to an extent because they will say we can't compete with the Saudi money, we need to be able to spend more.

posted on 19/6/23

comment by Dave the Save (U22987)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 1 minute ago
You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That's like saying you think all European Leagues should get the same TV money to ensure there is a level playing field.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
American clubs are more limited than European clubs too.

posted on 19/6/23

Why should FIFA do anything about this? What’s wrong with Saudi Arabia investing in their domestic league?

posted on 19/6/23

comment by A Treble Without Cheating (U9335)
posted 24 minutes ago
Why should FIFA do anything about this? What’s wrong with Saudi Arabia investing in their domestic league?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What's wrong with City investing to win a treble?

posted on 19/6/23

comment by HB Fashion Sakala is offside again (U21935)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Would suspect it will allow the European elite sides to push back on FFP to an extent because they will say we can't compete with the Saudi money, we need to be able to spend more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nahhhh. All but the richest don't have much more to spend.

posted on 19/6/23

But for someone like Ruben Neves to go there is just crazy. A player who has achieved nothing and probably at his prime. Money should not even be a factor at this stage. He can easily get a move to a big club and has been linked with many of them.


Very easy to write this until someone waves millions at you and you have to say no it is not easy.

posted on 19/6/23

comment by Dave the Save (U22987)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
comment by HenryKamp (U21315)
posted 25 seconds ago
You cannot limit European clubs with FFP and then let it open for Saudis. It is not fair.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course they can. Different football bodies and competitions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Its an interesting point though, because after all the crazy transfers in China, they ended up setting there own restrictions. Its down to the Saudis to do the same.

comment by Elvis (U7425)

posted on 19/6/23

comment by scholayScholes (U13961)
posted 17 minutes ago
But for someone like Ruben Neves to go there is just crazy. A player who has achieved nothing and probably at his prime. Money should not even be a factor at this stage. He can easily get a move to a big club and has been linked with many of them.


Very easy to write this until someone waves millions at you and you have to say no it is not easy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep. If he is going to be coming out with 10 times what he is on now, how can he say no to that? Go and play for 3 years in the sun in an easier league and get paid 10 times as much. Its a not brainer really.

posted on 19/6/23

Players like Witsel and Carrasco shows it’s possible to even chase the money for 2-3 years in a league like this and still just come back to Europe. Players careers longer than ever these days, Neves can still have a bit of ‘both’

comment by Elvis (U7425)

posted on 19/6/23

comment by Vorsprung durch Tuchel (U1641)
posted 4 minutes ago
Players like Witsel and Carrasco shows it’s possible to even chase the money for 2-3 years in a league like this and still just come back to Europe. Players careers longer than ever these days, Neves can still have a bit of ‘both’
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And I think that if you are playing in a league you can stroll around in, then it probably won't put as many miles on the body clock as the PL will.

comment by Busby (U19985)

posted on 19/6/23

comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 4 hours, 59 minutes ago
He would at least double that if he moves to Utd/Arsenal/Barca
--------------
He would also be sat on the bench most weeks.

Agree its a bit of an odd move, but meh, whatever motivates him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You think Neves would be sat on any of those teams bench?

posted on 19/6/23

Even Ronaldo, the most ambitious, driven and competitive player in the history of football went to Saudi for money and lost his European goalscoring record as a result. Could have gone to a lesser European team for less money if it wasn't about money

comment by Elvis (U7425)

posted on 19/6/23

comment by Pierre Reedy (U1734)
posted 3 minutes ago
Even Ronaldo, the most ambitious, driven and competitive player in the history of football went to Saudi for money and lost his European goalscoring record as a result. Could have gone to a lesser European team for less money if it wasn't about money
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He should have gone to Sporting really.

posted on 19/6/23

Also think about the roles of agents. Are they really motivated by what might bring the player a slight chance of a trophy or the romance of the PL? All they care about is what gets them the most money. The majority of players are brain dead idiots. I think we are giving them too much credit in their ability to make choices in the best interest of you personally as a fan sitting watching on your ipad....was going to say their career but then realised this convo is being driven by your own interests, I.e the top players playing in the PL

posted on 19/6/23

comment by Dave the Save (U22987)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
This could be a huge problem for the Portugese and Russian clubs who benefit from relaxed work permit rules by signing up young Brazilians / South American / African players before selling on at a huge profit.

After a year or 2 in Saudi, a player could 'afford' to sign for a club that means something to them / will get game time at, rather than sitting on the bench at one off the traditional big paying clubs of Europe.

Many Brazilians for example, could do 3 years in Saudi then return to Brazil rather than having to spend10 years in Europe to earn the same amount.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think you realise just how many of those players there are in all sorts of backwater leagues. They're everywhere.

The big Portuguese teams are a big pull both because they're big names in and of themselves, because they've got great scouting networks, and because they've got a great reputation for further developing players and selling them on to the bigger leagues.

The Russians don't have a particularly great tradition of unearthing gems in developing countries.

posted on 19/6/23

Lol who wouldn't move for 10x salary. Who would choose to play for 5 million when he can play for 50. Especially players like Neves, solid players, but not top level players.

posted on 19/6/23

It's not about moving at 10x the salary, though, is it?

How long is his new contract? 3 years? What happens after that. Will the league go the same way as China? Will FIFA put in anticompetitive rules. Meanwhile, they will have no money from endorsements in Europe.

Barca were going to double his wages to, £100k? £5m a season? There was a good chance at 26 he had another 7/8 years of high profile football left in him if he had moved to Barca.

Players never think of the longer term consequences. No one remembers those who moved to China and they have never been able to come back because the Chinese government introduced currency controls. They are stuck there.

Page 2 of 3

Sign in if you want to comment