This summer, the Saudi football market has once again been in the global spotlight. With an unprecedented budget of £2 billion, Saudi Pro League clubs such as Jeddah National, Jeddah United, Riyadh Victory and Riyadh Crescent are setting off an unprecedented "scramble" in European football. Superstars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min have been targeted, and last summer's rush to Saudi Arabia to pan for gold seemed to be just the beginning.
The crazy momentum of Saudi football is not just about the transfer fee figures, it is more like a reshaping of the football world. For those of us who are ordinary football lovers, it's both a feast for the eyes and a place to think. Why did Saudi Arabia choose to enter the football market so aggressively at this point in time? What is the meaning behind this?
First of all, the Saudi giants' aggressive attack has undoubtedly brought more options and possibilities to the players. For players, it's not just a question of salary, it's a new career option. But does this mean that the world of football will become more materialistic? When money dominates the world of football, what impact does this have on the development of football itself?
On the other hand, this model of "Golden Yuan Football" has also changed the viewing habits of fans to a certain extent. When we are accustomed to playing in front of the TV in Europe's top five leagues, will the rise of the Saudi league become the new focus of viewing? Will this change make the sport more global, or will it just be a short-lived carnival?
Of course, the rise of Saudi football has also brought new opportunities for local development. It is not only the prosperity of the football industry, but also the promotion of cultural exchanges and economic development. But whether this can be sustained will take time to tell. For those of us football fans, we are more concerned with the passion and confrontation on the football pitch than with the numbers game in the transfer market.
All in all, this shopping spree in Saudi football has undoubtedly brought new topics and thinking to the football world. As a football lover, I hope that under the aura of money, football can still maintain its original charm and purity. After all, for us, football is never just a game, it is an emotional sustenance, a cultural inheritance. Let's wait and see what kind of changes and impacts this Saudi football shopping spree will ultimately bring to global football.