Warning from UEFA president Ceferin on Saudi Arabia’s transfer strategy: mistake

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has issued a warning about Saudi Arabia’s transfer strategy for the Saudi Pro League this summer.

Following the decision of names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to go to the Middle Eastern country, there is talk that Wolves star Ruben Neves could also go to the Saudi Pro League. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Ceferin was asked if he was concerned about the immigration of players from Europe to join the Saudi league.

Ceferin said: “No, no, no. I think this is a mistake, especially for Saudi Arabian football. Why is this a problem for them? Because they need to invest in academies, bring in coaches and develop their own players.” he used the phrases.

While listing his criticisms, Ceferin went on to compare the Saudi Pro League’s transfer strategy to China’s strategy in the past:

“The system for buying players whose career is about to end is not a system that improves football. A similar mistake was made in China when all the players reached the end of their careers.

“IT’S NOT JUST MONEY IN EUROPE”

UEFA President Ceferin continued his remarks as follows:

“Tell me a player who is at the top of his career and started playing in Saudi Arabia. But it’s not about the money. Players want to win the best competitions. And the best competition is in Europe”.

When asked if European football had lost its greatest attractions after the departure of Ronaldo and Benzema, Ceferin replied:

“We didn’t lose them. They still play soccer. At the end of their careers, some players go somewhere to make money.”

THOSE READY TO GO TO SAUDI ARABIA…

No word yet on who else will move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and many more rumored to be heading to the Middle East.