Spain loans ‘only the start’
GSA boss claims more Saudi stars will make move to Europe
DUBAI: Turki Al-Alshaikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Sport Authority (GSA), believes the loaning out of nine Saudi Arabian players to Spanish clubs is just the start and will pave the way for more to head to Europe and represent the country.
At a joint press conference with Spain’s Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) held in Riyadh on Sunday night, the GSA announced that the nine players had completed loan moves to clubs in the Spanish first and second divisions.
The deals are part of an agreement signed between the two parties in October last year, aimed at developing football in the Kingdom.
Commenting on the transfers, Al-Alshaikh said it was “an opportunity for the players to learn what it is to be real professionals, gain experience and represent Saudi Arabia abroad.”
Al-Alshaikh was central to the completion of the transfers, laying the foundations for scouts from Spanish clubs to visit Saudi Arabia to select players. For him the loan moves are the first part of what he hopes sees a host of Saudi stars make the move to the big European leagues.
“I have infinite faith in the ability of our players. It is our role, all of us, to back them in this experience, which will be the beginning of many more transfers to Europe,” Al-Alshaikh said.
While the benefits of the move for the national team during World Cup year are easy to see, there have been concerns from clubs at losing their key players for the remainder of the season.
Al-Alshaikh added: “This is a big step, a substantial move forward for Saudi sports. We have to put the national team interests above everything else.”
Of the nine to make the move to Spain, three are key men who played a huge part in getting the Green Falcons to this summer’s World Cup.
Al-Hilal winger Salem Al-Dawsari was snapped up by Villarreal, who are currently fifth in La Liga table, while Al-Nassr playmaker Yahya Al-Shehri joined mid-table side Leganes. Relegation-battling Levante boosted their ranks with Fahad Al-Muwallad, the Al-Ittihad attacker who scored the goal that beat Japan and got Saudi Arabia to Russia. The three are expected to form the heart of the Green Falcons attack the summer.
Another three promising players who are on the fringes of the Saudi Arabia squad have also moved to Spain. Al-Fateh midfielder Nouh Al-Mousa was not part of Bert van Marwijk’s squad in the qualifiers, but has established himself as a candidate for the team heading to Moscow with strong performances in the Gulf Cup. Al-Mousa signed for Valladolid, currently ninth in the Spanish second division.
Joining Al-Mousa in signing for Segunda Division mid-table teams are Al-Shabab duo Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaihem, who moved to Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan who was signed by Sporting Gijon.
Completing the nine players are three youngsters, identified through the National Scouting Committee as Saudi-born talents, who have since been naturalized. Youngsters Ali Al-Nimr, Jabir Mustafa and Marwan Othman were all born in Saudi Arabia to expat parents, and have been identified as talents who could serve the national team in the future. The trio were signed by Riyadhbased Al-Shabab before being loaned out to Spanish clubs. Al-Nimr joins second-division side Numancia while Mustafa and Othman will play for the B teams of Villarreal and Leganes respectively.