Joan Laporta: Barcelona president says there are ‘no sporting reasons’ for soccer stars to join the Saudi Pro League

CNN
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Saudi Arabia may be disrupting football at the moment with record-breaking transfer bids and big salary offers, but Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta has told CNN Sport that there are “no sporting reasons” for a player to move to the Gulf state and play in the Saudi Pro play league (SPL).

“Fortunately, most players like Football Club Barcelona,” Laporta told Los Angeles-based CNN Sport’s Don Riddell during the Spanish side’s pre-season tour of the United States, which ended Tuesday against AC Milan in Las Vegas.

“They like our club because of the way we run the club, because of the kind of players we’ve had in the past and in the present.

“And if a player, with all due respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, there are basically no sporting reasons. You know, there are other reasons that take priority. And football has to be in the foreground – the sporting reasons have to be in the foreground.”

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) spends huge sums on sports and other interests. The PIF is a state-controlled fund that, according to its latest filing, has assets under management of $650 billion and aims to reach $1 trillion within a few years.

Last week Al-Hilal, one of four Saudi clubs owned by the PIF, made a world-record bid of over US$332m (€300m) for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappé.

The French star reportedly turned down a meeting and a deal with the Saudi Arabian football club, but the huge importance of the offer shows how determined the Saudis are to become a major player in world football.

Mbappé might have said no, but the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have all said yes to offers from SPL clubs.

Meanwhile, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo played in the SPL last season after signing a two-year deal with Al-Nassr, where he is estimated to make $200m a year.

Hussein Malla/`

Ronaldo scores for Al-Nassr in a friendly against PSG in January.

Laporta emphasized that in football, the team is more important than the individual. “I respect the decisions of the Saudi government which, as you know, involves talented players,” he said.

“Football is a team sport. Of course, the talented players help us to promote this sport and keep the fans happy, because talent is talent, but… the team is the priority.”

Despite questioning the “sporting merits” of playing in Saudi Arabia, Laporta suggested his club, one of the established powers in world football, “could help out” Gulf nation teams.

“In my view it’s more important to have the support of the clubs, the traditional clubs, especially the European clubs,” added Laporta.

“There are big European clubs, including football club Barcelona, ​​who could help these teams in the Saudi Pro League to encourage some federations to transfer our know-how and help them improve their teams.”

“I think this is the right way. Maybe with football academies, but at the same time with a direct association to improve the footballing quality of these teams.”

Last season, Barcelona won their first La Liga title since 2019, despite failing to progress beyond the Champions League group stage.

“Last season the priority was the Spanish league and this new season the league is our priority too,” said Laporta.

“But we want to do better in the Champions League and be among the contenders to win this competition. But our priority is still the Spanish league.”

Barca’s La Liga success last season had a lot to do with the defensive structure implemented by current coach and acclaimed former player Xavi.

According to Laporta, Xavi represents a continuum of two former Barca coaches – Pep Guardiola and the late Johan Cruyff.

“They belong to the same school and share the same philosophy. “That great philosophy, the Johan Cruyff philosophy, was for Pep and it’s for Xavi now,” Laporta said. “And of course they both have some differences, but they are coaches with a high personality and they improve on that real style of football that Johan Cruyff has implemented at Football Club Barcelona in the past.”

Earlier this year, before he joined MLS club Inter Miami, Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi said his son’s preferred move would have been a return to Barcelona during the summer transfer window.

Sam Navarro/USA Today Sports/Reuters

Messi celebrates after scoring against Cruz Azul for Inter Miami.

One of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi made 778 appearances for the Blaugrana in 17 years, breaking the club’s goal record and winning 35 trophies during his time at the Camp Nou, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.

“He’s the best player in the world, but a better person,” said Laporta, adding that Messi was “the best player in history”.

“We love him. He made the decision to go to Inter Miami. Good for Inter Miami, good for MLS. And of course we want this decision to be good for him too because of course we respect his decision and wish Messi and his Family all the best at Inter Miami.”