Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo
Tom Jenkins
The Saudi Pro League is planning a 'radical change' that will affect how the competition is structured in order to challenge the top leagues in Europe.
The Saudi Pro League burst onto the scene following the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, as they secured the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo as a free agent.
Ronaldo's move to Saudi put millions of eyes on the league for the first time. Since then the Portugal captain has been followed by talents such as Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, and Sadio Mane who all joined last summer.
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One of the strengths of the SPL can offer European talents extremely high wages due to the wealth of many of the clubs, but reports suggest the league could be about to make a huge change to enhance their pull.
Currently, four clubs in the Saudi Pro League are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, while most of the others receive funding from the Ministry of Sport.
Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League’s chief football executive has indicated plans for the "eventual privatisation of the rest of the clubs in the league" when speaking to The Telegraph.
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The main aim for the SPL is to become a top-10 league globally, with Emenalo suggesting they have even more ambitious long-term goals.
“When you accept these type of projects with the associated ambition the goal is to be the best you can possibly be,” he said.
“Right now our goal is to be one of the top leagues in the world.
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“Being No 1 is something that would be left to people in the future, whether that happens in 10 years, in 20 years, in 25 years, that would be welcome. But I think the place to start is to say we want to be the top league in the world.”
The SPL CEO also gave away some key transfer targets, suggesting that at the league's current stage, they will be looking to acquire the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah as they come to the end of their careers.