A new El Dorado for footballers, Saudi Arabia and its petrodollars are causing a sensation in this off-season. However, fundamental questions arise.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané… Saudi Arabia has conquered many of the big names in the football world in the space of a few months. The harvest is not over since many are still tempted by the Middle Eastern adventure today, starting with Newcastle player Allan Saint-Maximin. A real textbook case that sets the limits of a system.
Bought 80% last year by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Newcastle is in talks with the Al-Ahli club these days to sell the former Nice also passed by Saint-Etienne, Bastia and Monaco. However, the Jeddah-based team has itself been 75% owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund since June, like Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
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In the eyes of Newcastle’s competition in England, there is a conflict of interest there, with several elite clubs across the Channel suspecting the Magpies of preparing an overpriced transfer to bail out their coffers and meet the requirements of financial fair play. The latter clubs have reportedly asked the Premier League to investigate the matter, as is customary in England for deals over £1million.
