Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has issued a warning about the big spending by Saudi Pro League clubs following Riyad Mahrez's departure. Mahrez recently left City for Al Ahli in a £30 million deal, becoming another high-profile player to move to Saudi Arabia.
As an important member of the team since 2018, Mahrez scored 78 goals in 236 appearances for Guardiola's side. While City managed to keep most of their star players, Mahrez's desire to leave played a role in the deal being approved.
Guardiola expressed concern over the current state of the transfer market, comparing players' eagerness to join the Saudi Pro League with the time before Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival in January. He believes the spending by Saudi Pro League teams has had an impact on the transfer market.
Quoted by Daily Mail, Man City coach said: "A few months ago, when Cristiano was the only one to go, no-one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league. In the future, there will be more, and that's why clubs need to be aware of what is happening."
"Saudi is not about being a threat - it is a reality. They want to create a strong league and, so far, they are the league who can do it. The Premier League spent more than the others because the organisation is better and the broadcast rights are higher. The Saudi league, I don't know how long they will sustain that."
"But the players want to take this experience and play in that league. Saudi Arabia has changed the market." On Mahrez, Pep added: "Riyad got an incredible offer and that's why we could not say, 'Don't do it'. Our thoughts were for him to stay here, definitely."
