Saudi FA is in talks with UEFA to allow Saudi Pro League clubs to play in the Champions League
The Saudi Arabian Football Association is said to be in talks with UEFA about the prospect of a Saudi Pro League club competing in the UEFA Champions League in 2025.
According to Calcio e Finanza (via FootballTalkHQ), the Saudi FA has held talks with UEFA to raise the profile of Saudi football. With the entrance of major European stars this summer, the Saudi Pro League has made ripples.
This year, Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad), and Neymar (Al Hilal) have all visited the Middle East. Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves, N’Golo Kante, Marcelo Brozovic, and Roberto Firmino are among the others.
The money on offer in Saudi Arabia has enticed several of Europe’s top players to leave the Champions League. However, if the talks are successful, those stars may not be long in returning to Europe’s top.
It is unclear how the Saudi FA will pick the clubs to compete in the 2025 Champions League. However, one would expect it to be the club that wins the Saudi Pro League.
As a result, with such big sums at stake, it would only increase players’ motivation to win the Saudi league. However, fans’ reactions to the claims have been hostile due to the proposal’s non-European nature.
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