Why more players will join Saudi Arabian clubs – Guardiola reveals

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has acknowledged that European clubs will continue to lose more players to teams in Saudi Arabia.

Guardiola addressed the media after Riyad Mahrez’s £30 million move to Al Ahli was completed, with reports suggesting he will earn a staggering £750,000-per-week on his three-year contract.

Notably, several other Premier League stars, including Jordan Henderson, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Edouard Mendy, and Allan Saint-Maximin, have also signed lucrative deals to play in Saudi Arabia.

Guardiola expressed his belief that more footballers will be attracted to the Middle Eastern league in the future, as the trend of top players heading to Saudi Arabia continues to grow.

“A few months ago when Cristiano [Ronaldo] was the only one to go, no one thought that this many top players would join the Saudi league. In the future, there will be more, and clubs need to be aware of what is happening,” Guardiola said.

He further emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to create a strong league are becoming a reality, and other leagues should take note of their progress.

Guardiola also stressed that the Saudi league should not be seen as a threat but rather as a formidable football destination that is offering attractive opportunities to players.