Where are all these Saudi clubs getting their money from?

[Baines' left foot]

It’s a government backed sports washing campaign

Saudi Arabia's PIF takes control of four top clubs in country

PIF, which owns an 80 per cent stake in Premier League club Newcastle United, will take control of Saudi outfits Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

www.dailymail.co.uk

This and many other reasons are why I’m fast losing interest in most sports. It’s just not proper sport any more, it’s just fun for billionaires.

Another thing which irks me is the likes of F1 using volunteers for stewards, The Open event at Hoylake is looking for volunteer staff etc. yet the winners in each respective sport getting tens of millions. It’s gone too far now.

 

[perth_blue]

I don't think the state got involved with the Chinese league, whereas they have with a lot of these leagues so it will probably go 'better'

Didn't the Chinese government tell the clubs to pack in signing international players and spunking silly wages in them, and to instead focus on home grown players.

 

[verreauxi]

It's all going to be used as a way to legitimise them as a footballing nation for when they bid for the World Cup as well

They've already enlisted Messi as an ambassador for their 2030 bid, which ironically means Messi will be supporting a bid that opposes one from Argentina

I'm sure the buckets of money made that decision sting a little less for him

If Messi had a sense of humor he would negotiate with the Championship league and move to Stoke on a free transfer. Part of the negotiations would be to move all of Stoke's home matches to nights. He could put to bed this rumor once and for all, and Stoke's economy would flourish as fans would flock there.

 

[wm02]

It's relative isn't it? They're already worth hundreds of millions, so one would think that affords them the ability to do only what they truly want to rather than having to sacrifice their beliefs to earn money.

I’m not sure that they (Ronaldo, Messi) have well-formed beliefs in the first place tbh.

 

[LEONARD]

 

[Walken]

This will burn out like Chinese football did.

No soul = no dice.

Or they view the LIV model as an opportunity to forge merging leagues.

 

[wm02]

All this bitterness because the mighty Al-Rayyan come and take our best players as and when they want.

And our Wednesday wives!

 

[GoldenToffee]

Surely Messi could essentially name his price and a plethora of Saudi clubs would be more than happy to sign him up.

He should get his agent to go in demanding $25m a week on a three-year deal, guaranteeing him $4b over the length of the contract.

The money means nothing to these Saudi businessmen, and having the most decorated footballer ever in their league alongside Ronaldo would be right up their street and help them very nicely in their sportswashing.

 

[allen]

Or they view the LIV model as an opportunity to forge merging leagues.

I'm not sure, it doesn't seem especially analogous.

Team sports, in domestic national leagues, are quite different to individual sports where the players routinely travel to tournaments around the globe.

 

[MichaelEFC96]

It’s getting out of control now. I certainly won’t watch a minute of it regardless of which players go there

 

[BainesontoastNEW]

Let all the mercenaries go there. We just might get "our" game back.

 

[gonetomorrow]

If Messi had a sense of humor he would negotiate with the Championship league and move to Stoke on a free transfer. Part of the negotiations would be to move all of Stoke's home matches to nights. He could put to bed this rumor once and for all, and Stoke's economy would flourish as fans would flock there.

It's a no-brainer.

 

[GP_Monty]

Zaha going there now, a bit less 'washed-up' than the others. What happens when they start offering outrageous money for players at the Big 6 I wonder?

 

[GoldenToffee]

Kante about to accept a $100m two-year deal. F me lol Tom Davies, bet he's wishing he was 7 years older so he could go and earn $50m a season there.

 

[hirons11]

If Messi had a sense of humor he would negotiate with the Championship league and move to Stoke on a free transfer. Part of the negotiations would be to move all of Stoke's home matches to nights. He could put to bed this rumor once and for all, and Stoke's economy would flourish as fans would flock there.

You’ve never been to Stoke have you? Not a chance Messi could turn that place around.