Each has been signed to huge contracts, and there is even speculation of Al-Ittihad targeting Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah for £215 million
Corberan, in contrast, did not join the growing number of individuals playing the game who have criticized the Saudi Pro League’s strategy when he offered his opinions on the subject.
He is cited as saying, “Everyone is talking like Saudi is doing something negative for football – no,” by the Birmingham Live [7 September]. “This is what they are doing; they are investing the money.
“England is a tournament that invests money in the Premier League. When someone has the money to pay for the top players, they can typically achieve the best in the world.
While Corberan is correct that the Saudi Pro League’s strategy is not too dissimilar from the Premier League’s, a league where teams frequently pay exorbitant prices for the greatest players in the world, the Spaniard has missed the bigger picture with his remarks.
The issue is not about Al Hilal spending £77 million to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
The outrage is primarily about where the money is coming from and how well-known figures are being signed in order to hide other atrocities that take place outside of the sporting sphere.
Spending a lot of money on the top celebrities at the games is one thing, but “sportswashing” using public funds is quite another.
