As they sought to improve their midfield ranks over the summer, Liverpool and Chelsea were both passed over.
Despite interest from some of the finest teams in Europe, Al-Ahli star Gabri Veiga has resisted joining the team for financial gain. A number of teams expressed interest in hiring the playmaker, including Liverpool and Chelsea, but he ultimately decided to join the Saudi Pro League.
Veiga became one of Spain’s most sought-after young players during his breakout season with Celta Vigo. In 36 La Liga appearances last season, the 21-year-old scored 11 goals and recorded four assists, displaying his versatility in a variety of positions.
Veiga became a highly sought-after player due to his exceptional play and potential, and several teams were anticipated to attempt to trigger his £34.5 million release clause. Al-Ahli raced in to recruit the midfielder quickly as part of their big overhaul, thwarting Napoli’s attempt to outsmart the competition with a lower bid.
Over the summer, the Saudi team hosted a number of A-list athletes, including Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, and Allan Saint-Maximin. However, Veiga has refuted suggestions that he moved to the Middle East purely for financial gain. The prevailing perception surrounding established players moving there is that the money on offer is too good to pass up.
“I realise that everyone has their own life, opinions, and choices to make. I’m proud of the decision I’ve taken, but there were other factors that swayed the scales, the Spain Under-21 international said to El Larguero.
“At the end of the day, out of all the possibilities I was thinking about, this was the one that gave me the most chance to develop as a football player, develop under a young coach, develop with a star-studded team, and develop in a league that was becoming the Saudi Pro League. Even though some people might not understand it, it was the best step I could have made to look towards the future.”
Veiga could have left Celta Vigo after such a successful season to compete at the highest level and play in the Champions League. He did not rule out leaving Saudi Arabia in the future to play at that level, which is still one of his goals and may draw interest from clubs like Manchester City that were previously interested.
“You never know what can happen,” said Veiga, “but one day my motivation might be to play in the Champions League and win European championships. Even two years ago, I had no idea I would be living in Saudi Arabia today, therefore I’m thrilled to be here.”