RIYADH (SW): As many as nine national football players from Saudi Arabia will head to seven different teams in the Spanish LaLiga in a bid to prepare for the forthcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia later this year.
This deal is part of a project in which LaLiga, the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation look to boost their respective football brands. According to marca news, none of the players will arrive at any cost, nor will their salaries be paid by any of the Spanish teams involved.
In a statement released by LaLiga on Sunday evening, the process behind the deals was explained.
"The arrival of Saudi footballers in Spain comes after a rigorous scouting process," the statement read. "Spanish clubs have worked for months to capture the player which best fits their team and improves their squad."
Spanish top flight clubs Villarreal, Leganes and Levante all announced the loan signings of Saudi Arabia internationals until the end of the season as part of an agreement. Second-tier sides Sporting Gijon, Numancia, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid also participated in the deal, with a statement from the league’s organising body saying a total of nine players would move to Spain, including two academy players.
Saudi Arabia will play the opening game of the 2018 World Cup against hosts Russia after qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 2006.
Before the loan signings were announced on Sunday, the vast majority of Saudi Arabia’s international players competed in the country’s top league. Only one player, Mukhtar Ali, plays abroad with Dutch top flight side Vitesse Arnhem.
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