Saudi investment has ‘changed’ transfer market, says Man City’s Pep Guardiola after Riyad Mahrez exit
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to his players during a training session in Seoul on July 29.
PHOTO: AFP
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Seoul – Saudi Arabia has changed football’s transfer market in its bid to “create a strong league”, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Saturday after Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez left the Premier League club to join Al-Ahli.
Mahrez, who scored 78 goals and made 59 assists for City in a trophy-laden spell at the English club, on Friday joined the Saudi Pro League side for a reported €35 million (S$51.4 million) plus €5 million in add-ons.
Asked if he had wanted Mahrez to remain at City, Guardiola said: “Definitely. I enjoyed as a manager to be with him. I had a special relationship with him...”
“Saudi Arabia has changed the market. A few months ago, when Cristiano (Ronaldo) was the only one to go,
“In the future, there will be more and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening. Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we could not say, don’t do it.”
The Saudi Pro League has become an attractive destination for Europe-based players since Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in January, with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, World Cup winner N’Golo Kante and ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson also moving to Saudi.
Al-Ettifaq have reportedly paid £12 million (S$20.5 million) plus add-ons for Henderson, who ended his 12-year stay at Anfield.
City could also lose another player to the Saudi league, with Portuguese international Bernardo Silva linked with a move to Al-Hilal, according to British media reports.
“They want to create a strong league and, so far, they are the league who can do it,” Guardiola said.
“Right now, the Saudi league, I don’t know how long they will sustain it, but the feeling is that they will stay. The players want to take this experience to play in that league and they are able to do it.”
City’s first match of the 2023-24 domestic campaign after their pre-season tour is the Community Shield game against Arsenal on Aug 6. REUTERS, AFP
