Emmanuel Thomas I Monday, July 31, 2023
MUNICH – Football faces “big damage” if more and more players leave for the money-laden Saudi Pro League, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has warned.
Kehl told Monday’s edition of Kicker sports magazine that the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia would also affect his club in the long run.
“It is simply not possible to explain the sums that are paid, especially in Saudi Arabia. They are changing the market and making it even more difficult to act,” Kehl said.
“It is not only ageing stars who are going there but also younger players. If this continues football will develop in a direction that will certainly cause it big damage.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first star to join the Pro League at Al-Nassr in December, and this summer the likes of Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Jordan Henderson and N’Golo Kante have followed.
The Al-Hilal club were reportedly ready to pay a world record €300 million ($330 million) for France star Kylian Mbappe who however is said to be not willing to move as well.
Kehl also said Dortmund would continue on their path of luring young talent to the Bundesliga runners-up.
“We have worked for this reputation in the whole of Europe over the past years. In the end we also try to build up market value. This aspect will always play a role in our transfer policy,” Kehl said.
Dortmund have generated big income with this scheme through the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele, Jordon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
