SEOUL: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Saturday that the Saudi Pro League had “completely changed the market” and he expects more and more high-profile players to move there.
City winger Riyad Mahrez this week became just the latest big name to move to Saudi football, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and numerous others from Europe’s top leagues.
Algerian international Mahrez joined Al-Ahli for a fee understood to be worth up to £30 million ($38.6 million).
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane on Saturday looked poised to join the exodus.
“The Saudi league completely changed the market,” Guardiola said in Seoul on the eve of City’s friendly with Atletico Madrid.
“A year ago, when Cristiano Ronaldo was the first player, no one could imagine how many top, top quality, extraordinary players were going to play in the Saudi league.
“In the future, it will happen more and more.”
Guardiola said that he had a “special relationship” with Mahrez, even though the attacker fell from favor toward the end of his time at the English and European champions.
“He’s one of the players I’ve seen in my career I enjoyed the most.
“(He was) an important figure for the success we had during the five or six years together.”
Saudi league ‘completely changed the market’: Guardiola
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Saudi league ‘completely changed the market’: Guardiola
- Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane on Saturday looked poised to join the exodus
- “A year ago, when Cristiano Ronaldo was the first player, no one could imagine how many top, top quality, extraordinary players were going to play in the Saudi league,” said Pep
Giants Zamalek, Wydad kept apart in CAF Confederation Cup draw
- Zamalek face AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville and Wydad meet fellow Moroccans Olympique Safi
- Should Zamalek advance, they will play fellow Egyptian club Al Masry or Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria
JOHANNESBURG: African club giants Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca were kept apart in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final and semifinal draws made in Cairo on Tuesday.
Zamalek face AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville and Wydad meet fellow Moroccans Olympique Safi in the quarter-finals next month.
Should Zamalek advance, they will play fellow Egyptian club Al Masry or Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria for a place in the two-legged final of the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
If Wydad prevail in the Moroccan derby, Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo or USM Alger of Algeria would be their semifinal opponents.
The semifinals are scheduled for April and the final for May with the winners pocketing $2 million (1,690mn euros) and the runners-up $1mn.
Popularly known as the White Knights, Zamalek are the second most successful club in CAF competitions with 13 titles, including Confederation Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2024.
Wydad have won five CAF competitions, but this will be their first appearance in the knockout stage of the Confederation Cup.
Both clubs won their groups to reach the quarter-finals. Wydad won five of six matches while Zamalek claimed three victories.
They suffered one loss each — Wydad away to Maniema in Kinshasa and Zamalek were surprised by ZESCO United in Ndola.
Draws
Quarter-finals
Al Masry (EGY) v Chabab Belouizdad (ALG)
Olympique Safi (MAR) v Wydad Casablanca (MAR
AS Otoho (CGO) v Zamalek (EGY)
Maniema Union (COD) v USM Alger (ALG)
1st legs: March 15, 2nd legs: March 22
Semi-finals
Maniema or USM v Safi or Wydad
Masry or Belouizdad v Otoho or Zamalek
1st legs: April 12, 2nd legs: April 19
Final
1st leg: May 9, 2nd leg: May 16
