Brilliant move by the Saudis. It is a win for everyone. PSG get an world record fee. Saudi get the profile they crave. Real get the carrot of signing Mbappe after 1 year. Mbappe gets riches beyond his wildest dreams - I cant see him wanting to leave to Madrid if the rumored salary is true.
Call it what you like, sportswashing, cheating, financial doping - it is all irrelevant.
The EPL had the good years, and when the premier league became a thing, with huge broadcast deals, we were the best league, with the most money and could attract the best talent. What goes around comes around. With Saudi money, they can blow Europe out of the water.Â
It is a business, and if they have the means and resources to throw money at the issue, then fair play to them. They will reap the rewards in due course - be it via people watching the league, tourism, tv rights or winning a world cup. I live in the UAE, and one thing is for certain. The gulf countries are serious when it comes to being considered a global player. Be that in tourism, politics, development, investment or in this case, sports. The top down approach that the countries have, free of bureaucracy allows for such decisions to be made a pace. The west wont like it. English clubs wont like it. But I tip my hat at the sheer ambition and brass that they have.