Gary Neville has called for the Premier League to introduce a ban on player transfers to the Saudi Pro League to protect the integrity of the game.
The former Manchester United captain believes England’s top-flight should stop the transfer of players to Saudi Arabia until they can assure that the integrity of the competition is not at risk.
Some of football’s biggest names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante have already completed moves to the Middle East as they approach the end of their careers and earn a huge payday.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), who also own Newcastle United, have taken over four of the country’s biggest clubs: Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Hilal.
Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves alongside Chelsea trio Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech as well as Arsenal’s Thomas Partey are all on the verge of switching too.
Concerns have been raised by Neville due to the suspicious nature of the transfers amid speculation the PIF allegedly holds as stake in Chelsea’s ultimate owners, the private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
RELATED: Saudi Pro League Side Al Nassr Agree Deal With Chelsea To Sign Hakim Ziyech
“The Premier League should put an instant embargo on transfers to Saudi Arabia to ensure the integrity of the game isn’t being damaged.
“Checks should be made on the appropriateness of the transactions.
“If it comes through that process, obviously transfers could open up again. But I do believe, at this moment in time, transfers should be halted until you look into the ownership structure at Chelsea and whether there are beneficial transfer dealings that are improper.”
The Saudi Pro League is on its way to becoming a leading name in the sport and has only furthered expectations of another ‘Super League’ fiasco in the coming years.
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