![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/131012998_karimbenzema-696x392.jpg\" "\\"_131012998_karimbenzema\\"\/")
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
European football is not in danger from the vast Saudi Pro League recruitment drive, say senior figures at the influential European Club Association.<\/p>\n
However, European sides want alignment over when the Saudi transfer window opens and closes.<\/p>\n
This year, the Saudi transfer window has remained open for a week longer than in most European leagues.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there is a danger,\u201d said ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.<\/p>\n
The ECA was founded in 2008 to represent the interests of clubs from across Europe and includes hundreds of member teams.<\/p>\n
Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari former tennis player who is also Paris St-Germain president and has been a member of Uefa\u2019s executive committee since 2019, added: \u201cWe believe in ourselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the best and biggest competitions and the best players. It is not for me to judge what is happening outside of Europe. But listen, most of the clubs sold players to them. If we are not happy, why do we sell our players to them? That\u2019s the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it dangerous? I told you my opinion. If there is a danger, the European clubs will not be quiet. So far, I don\u2019t see any danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saudi Pro League had the fourth-highest overall transfer spend this summer, exceeding Spain\u2019s La Liga and the German Bundesliga.\u00a0According to Deloitte, Saudi Pro League clubs have so far spent \u00a3691m.<\/p>\n
BBC Sport has been told there is funding guaranteed for a decade, suggesting the Gulf nation intends for its competition to become one of the world\u2019s foremost in the coming years.<\/p>\n
But Al-Khelaifi does not think there is an imminent threat to the European game, despite the exit of players such as Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Neymar among others.<\/p>\n
Former Liverpool captain Henderson joined Steven Gerrard\u2019s Al-Ettifaq in a controversial move in July, Senegal forward Mane switched to Al-Nassr from German side Bayern Munich, Brazil forward Neymar left Paris St-Germain to play for Al-Hilal, while Ballon d\u2019Or winner Benzema is now captain of Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
Despite Al-Khelaifi\u2019s insistence, there has been nervousness at some clubs over the potential for the Saudi Pro League to snap up players in Europe in the week\u2019s gap since the transfer window in the major European leagues closed.<\/p>\n
Al-Ittihad have continued to pursue Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah despite the Premier League season already being up and running.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be worried about it,\u201d said Bayern Munich chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen, who has replaced former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Khan as an ECA vice-president. \u201cWe have fantastic competitions. We don\u2019t have to be afraid.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I would prefer the window to be closed at the same time. I would propose that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Al-Khelaifi sees the merits in a salary cap<\/h3>\n
Without doubt, the Saudi Pro-League spending spree has driven up salaries, either because clubs are trying to retain players or because agents are using rumoured interest \u2013 genuine or not \u2013 as a bargaining tool.<\/p>\n
It has brought renewed calls for a salary cap but imposing one through regulation will not be easy.<\/p>\n
In 2021, the English Football League scrapped an attempt to introduce one for Leagues One and Two, which had support at club level, after the Professional Footballers\u2019 Association sought arbitration, arguing it was \u201cunlawful and unenforceable\u201d.<\/p>\n
Al-Khelaifi sees the merits in a salary cap, if it is legal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ask all the clubs, from the biggest to the smallest, no-one wants to lose money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can legally come to a way that rules will allow us, everyone will support it, definitely. No-one will say no. That is what we want.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut is it legal? Can we do it? Is there any challenge legal wise? I don\u2019t know but everyone will want to make money, not lose it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soriano elected to ECA board<\/h3>\n
In elections held earlier on Wednesday during the ECA\u2019s general assembly in Berlin, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano took the vacant Premier League spot on the ECA board.<\/p>\n
Celtic chair Peter Lawwell was named as a vice-president, whilst Sparta Prague international relations manager Martina Pavlova and Olympique Lyonnais Feminine owner Michele Kang were elected into the two positions reserved on the board for female representatives.<\/p>\n
Pavlova has also been named a vice-president.<\/p>\n
Questioned about the controversy surrounding the Spain Women\u2019s World Cup team and Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales still remaining in post, Pavlova said: \u201cThe ECA speaks for itself \u2013 its values are clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know there are some proceedings [against Rubiales]. We have to wait for the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n