Al-Ahli: the underside of the surprising coup Gabri Veiga

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By: Manu Tournoux

Needless to return to the transfers made by Saudi clubs this summer. The four government-funded clubs – Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – have imported an impressive number of football stars, with quite different profiles. From the great player at the end, to the one who needs to revive after difficult years, or even the one who performs well in Europe in second-class clubs. On the other hand, so far, the Saudis have not yet managed to get their hands on a real hope of European football.

But on Saturday, Al-Ahli announced the arrival of Gabri Veiga, one of the most promising players in the Spanish league, and in European football in general. The player trained at Celta de Vigo was thus promised a future in a big European club, and if PSG had come to the news, it was Naples that seemed on the verge of winning the jackpot. But at the very last moment, his departure for the Italian champions fell apart. He therefore took over the management of Al-Ahli, who paid the almost 40 million euros claimed by Celta.

No other choice?

brand says a little more about this transfer which is talking about, and frustrating many people in Spain, but also elsewhere. We learn in particular that what seduced the player, in addition to the financial aspect, was the relatively short contract period: 3 years. In addition to the possibility of being able to leave without too many complications if he wished.

But above all, it was that or nothing. It was the only offer accepted by his club, which needed the money. The Galicians pushed him out, but only accepted the Saudi offer. In summary, going to Saudi Arabia was the only option available to him. The darling of Pini Zahavi should therefore continue his career in Arab lands, but with this objective of returning, in the long term, to a European championship…

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