Saudi football is increasingly relying on Spanish talent , both on and off the field. A striking example is Esteve Calzada , who left Manchester City a couple of years ago to become the CEO of Al Hilal, one of the largest clubs in the country and the continent. His team is facing off against Real Madrid tonight, and the executive sits down with EL MUNDO in Miami to discuss the match, the market, offers, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius .
Adapting in a Competitive Market
- They are coming off three complicated weeks, trying for several transfers and not succeeding. How have you dealt with this?
- Yes, it has been atypical. We had a series of targets, but you don’t want to tie yourself with two or three-year contracts just for the World Cup , which will last a few weeks. That’s why we haven’t signed anyone, just a couple of local players. No international players, because it didn’t work out, they were already thinking about vacation, or they were asking for too much money. The team has a solid base that has performed well, and the summer market will come, where we will pursue bringing in good players with ambition.
- But for the World Cup, which is important for you, you arrive without new signings.
- Yes, but the problem would have arisen if players had left, as the team would have weakened. You sign to improve what you have. We have been offered countless players, and many wanted to come, but if your first and second options have fallen through, you won’t go for the fifth when you already have a good team.
- You debut against Madrid.
- Our objective is to compete, and we are very eager to play these matches to see where we truly stand. We are from a different continent and cannot play with great teams very often. We caused problems a couple of years ago when we faced Madrid in the Club World Cup, and we are hopeful.
- There were rumors that Vinicius had an offer from Saudi Arabia.
- That’s said; I think it’s an urban legend. In the end, this is something that happens to us a lot. Sometimes things are true, and sometimes we are used—as my team and the league in general—to negotiate better for a renewal with another club. We are often included in the discussions. I can tell you that in the case of Al Hilal, there has never been anything with Vinicius, especially not with the figures that have been reported.
“We seek players in their prime, under 30 years old and with stable families.”
Strategic Management and Future Aspirations
- The major change has been the coach, with the arrival of Simone Inzaghi, a finalist in the Champions League with Inter Milan.
- The president fought to convince him, and we are delighted. He didn’t win the final, but he is one of the best in the world. When we showed interest in him, he asked us to talk after the final because he was focused on that, and eventually, the signing happened. It shows the ambition of the project.
- Many rumors circulated regarding a potential signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Hilal just for the Club World Cup. Were these true?
- They didn’t make sense. To clarify, Al Hilal and Al-Nassr, the two teams in Riyadh, are like Madrid and Atlético, while Al Ittihad (where Benzema plays in Jeddah) would be like Barcelona. Al-Nassr is our eternal rival; it is not something we would even consider.
- Is the next step to continue acquiring world-class players?
- With Neymar, there was bad luck due to injury, but commercially it was a success.
- Yes, he had that impact in terms of followers, but you bring him to perform on the field. If you gain traction in marketing, great, but the injury was unfortunate.
- Regarding player offers, has there been a change in Saudi Arabia? Initially, there was outrageous spending, but now it seems more calculated, along with increased interest from players and clubs to negotiate with local teams?
“We are not going to be Madrid or Barça, but we want to connect with young audiences through the players.”
The Future is Bright
- No overpaying.
- Until now, the path for a good player was Europe, playing Champions League, and trying to win it. This shifts away from the traditional route, and we cannot forget that money plays a significant role. In this case, due to the country’s tax system, which does not have the same taxes as other places, we can be more competitive. We negotiate net amounts, which is an advantage.
- How do you end up at Al Hilal?
- I spent 12 years at Manchester City, the last stage as the commercial head, and I was approached by the most important club in Arabia and Asia. It’s an exciting adventure. I have been impressed by the passion of the people, reaching unexpected heights. For you to understand, people stop me on the street and ask for photos. That’s not common in Spain or Europe. You ask for photos with players or the coach, but not with the CEO. Al Hilal is like the Real Madrid of Arabia; we have to fight for all titles, and we want to be recognized internationally. We will not be Madrid or Barça, but we aim to connect with young audiences through the players. The arrival of Neymar is proof, as we experienced tremendous growth.
- And the country has a plan behind it.
- One that will culminate with the 2034 World Cup , which will continue like this. Bringing in these players is part of a government program, but not everyone who comes is paid by that program. We have our own capacity.
- How does the league budget work?
- The government program is channeled through the league and provides for some players at a total amount. There is no specific amount. Each team presents its ideas, its players, and the league has its sporting department that helps smaller teams. The government support is beneficial, and we complement it with our own revenue-generating capacity and significant donations. In our case, we have Prince Al-Waleed, one of the club’s benefactors, who decisively influences signings and financial contributions.