Agents causing Saudi Arabian transfer market inflation

Saudi Arabia is the main agitator in the current transfer window. They started in the previous one, signing Cristiano Ronaldo in January and this summer they have managed to bring in household names such as Karim Benzema, Eduoard Mendy, N’Golo Kanté, Marcelo Brozovic and Roberto Firmino. They also tried, but without luck, to take Messi to the Pro League.

There’s no end to the rumors - almost every day, information is emerging about players being tracked by Saudi clubs who are reportedly willing to pay astronomical salaries. Of course, not everything you read is true and a lot of what is being published is deliberately leaked by agents, as Spanish journalist Antón Meana revealed last night in Cadena SER’s El Larguero programme.

Enough rumors to form 60 teams...

“Saudi Arabia is now saying enough is enough. They are tired of the leaks from some agents, a deliberate ploy to try and get their clients lucrative contracts. The Saudi government tells the players it deals with not to be fooled. They want a maximum of 25-30 players, the rest of the news is just not true. Saudi could form a league with 60 teams with all the rumors that are doing the rounds. The interest in Griezmann and Morata however is there, it’s real,” the presenter said of the continuous barrage of names being bandied about every day in the sports press.

AFE president David Aganzo was also a guest on El Larguero, and gave his thoughts on this issue: “It’s a question of supply and demand. Sure, I can understand that as a country, they have invested a lot in soccer and I think there will be a similar ‘boom’ with the United States now with Leo [Messi] and Mexico as well - another a powerful country that wants to be able to compete with the best. Basically, it’s down to the individual, and the experience they are looking for - they are free workers who have to make the decision based on an economic level while considering their family needs”.