Saudi movers got 'no sporting reasons', says Laporta

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta had a dig at footballers who decided to flock to Saudi Arabia from Europe, saying that they do not see football or sporting reasons as "priority".  

"When a player, and with all due respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, basically there are no sporting reasons," Laporta told CNN. 

"You know, there are other reasons that are the priority. And the football must be the priority – the sporting reasons must be the priority."  

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's signing for Al-Nassr late last year, an exodus of European stars to Saudi Pro League have taken place in the ongoing transfers, featuring the likes of N'golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Marcelo Brozovic among others.

The latter was reportedly a target of Barcelona but their offer was not as lucrative as Al-Nassr's.

"I respect the decisions of the Saudi government that, you know, incorporate talented players," added Barcelona president, who has been at the helm since 2021 on his second stint with the Catalan side.  

"There are big European clubs, Barcelona, that could help these teams in the Saudi Pro League in order to get some associations to transfer our know-how and to help them to improve their teams."