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Manchester City and Liverpool managers worry about European football stars leaving to Gulf states

Posted : 30 July 2023
Both Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, and Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, have expressed their concerns about the increasing number of high-profile departures to the Gulf state from European football.

The Saudi league has recently attracted several stars, such as Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, and Jordan Henderson. The latter two players made their moves in the last week, with Mahrez joining Al Ahly and Henderson signing for Steven Gerrard's Al Ittifaq.
 
Riyad Mahrez and Jordan Henderson have been integral to the successes of Manchester City and Liverpool in recent years. Mahrez was part of Leicester's incredible Premier League title win in 2016, while Henderson played a vital role in Liverpool's title-winning campaigns.
 
Both Guardiola and Klopp, two of the most experienced managers, especially in the Premier League, have admitted that the influx of big-money transfers to the Gulf has surprised and worried them. Guardiola acknowledged that the Saudis are actively working to build a strong league, and Mahrez's departure was driven by an impressive economic offer.
 
Despite their desire for Mahrez to stay, Guardiola understood his decision, considering his limited playing time in crucial matches like the Champions League and FA Cup finals. The manager expressed concern over how this trend might impact the transfer market in the long term, as players are enticed by the opportunity to experience playing in the Gulf league.
 
As for Jordan Henderson's move to join former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Al Ittifaq, it was met with mixed reactions. While Klopp was surprised by Henderson's request to leave after an eight-year relationship with the club, he acknowledged that they couldn't refuse such a compelling financial offer if the player was set on departing.
 
The move of both Mahrez and Henderson highlights the growing financial power of the Saudi league, which has raised questions and discussions among football managers and fans alike.

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