Ex Super Eagles player, Michael Emenalo, and former Chelsea technical director, has been behind a breathtaking raid on Europe, which has seen the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Riyad Mahrez head to the middle east for staggering salaries.
Emenalo was appointed earlier this summer to head up a new ‘Player Acquisition Center of Excellence’ for the league, to help lure some of the world’s best talent to the Persian Gulf.
Unlike in most of the rest of the footballing world, incoming international transfers to the Saudi Pro League are conducted by the central body led by Emenalo.
The Saudi Pro League’s transfer chief says he wants ‘all the top players’ – and has warned that more incredible spending is planned in the current window.
Earlier this week, Premier League boss Richard Masters backed the domestic competition to stave off any Saudi threat to become the world’s leading division, but admitted its growing presence was something that officials would have to keep an eye on.
And while Emenalo, the upstart league’s director of football, claimed the English had nothing to fear, he set out his plan for the SPL to become a superpower within ‘a few short years’.
Following a government takeover of four clubs – that has ushered in the arrival of some of the continent’s most recognisable names on the back of state wealth – a move for Kylian Mbappe was thwarted.
But Emenalo, who watched Roberto Firmino hit a hat-trick last week is undeterred.
‘I would love to have Mbappe here,’ he said. ‘I would love to have Harry Kane here. The league would like to have all the top players. In a couple of years, in a few short years, this will become a league for exceptional players only. It will become a league only for those who at the top of their game.
‘And yes, we have resources and we’re going to use those resources to make sure the only players that are here are the ones that are at the top of their game.’
The Saudi window does not close until September 20, 19 days after Europe’s, and earlier this month Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp urged Fifa to look into the gap amid concerns clubs could lose players without being able to replace them.
Emenalo, however, vowed to carry on spending. ‘There’s always more business to be done,’ he said. We’re always open for some surprises, you know, maybe something big happens. But now the clubs are working frantically to improve their squads and they will continue to do that until the end of the transfer window.’
City boss Pep Guardiola also warned that Premier League clubs would have to be wary of losing stars to the SPL but Emenalo does not believe they should feel intimidated.
‘The European leagues, especially the Premier League, are very strong, entrenched’ he said. ‘They have no reason to be scared. I do feel they consider our presence to be disruptive.
‘I think there is panic in some areas but this is from misunderstanding of what we stand for, what we are trying to do. I was told what Mr Klopp said and what Mr Guardiola said. One is a coach I absolutely admire and the other, Pep, is a good friend of mine.
‘First, I hope they don’t talk themselves out of a job (here) in future! I understand their concerns. Our goal is to work together with all the leagues and be a brotherhood in football industry.’