Gordon Strachan has admitted that players across Britain are waiting to see the Saudi phone code appear on their mobile!
That might be stretching it a bit but there is no doubt that agents across Europe are trying to get their clients in front of the decision makers in the Saudi Pro League.
In less than a week Jota switched from Celtic to Al Ittihad with ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes behind the move to the club managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager that imported so many Portuguese players to Wolves a few seasons back.
The mechanics of that move seemed to be that terms were agreed between player/agent and the buying club before Celtic got involved with the Saudi influence making a huge impact on the transfer scene.
When Cristiano Ronaldo went to the Saudi League last year it was looked on as a retirement move but recent deals including Jota’s move suggests that it is not just the 30 something’s that are being offered life changing contracts.
Asked about the Jota move Strachan told Genting Casino:
I think every player in Britain now is sat by their phone waiting for the Saudi telephone code to flash up. When that call comes in, players will start singing and dancing (laughs).
I would challenge anyone to turn down an offer of fifteen times their wages. You have to remember that the player will have a family that he will want to look after and, there is no doubt about it that that kind of backing can take care of that.
Even if he were to join the club for a period of three years, and then he can move on and do what he wants after that. I see absolutely no problem with any player making that decision. Let’s not forget that he’ll be playing alongside the likes of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, which will be a real learning curve for him. I see no problem with it and its also going to make the club a lot of money.
It’s easy for people to question the players desire, but once that money is presented to you, it becomes hard to turn down. And I bet the pundits that are criticising him would all do exactly the same thing if they were offered the chance to.
As a player Strachan signed a pre-contract agreement to join Cologne from Aberdeen, later in the season Manchester United came on the scene with the Bundesliga side compensated for his decision to switch to Old Trafford.
