webmeister posted:

Saudi and China feel like they have/had totally different end goals in mind though. China had said they wanted to be a global force with a strong national team etc etc, and one way to do that was bring in top foreign players, coaches and administrators to Chinese clubs, who can help in developing local talent and thus improving the league’s quality, and therefore the national side too.

Saudi just seems to be throwing squillions at aging superstars like Ronaldo, Benzema, probably Messi and Neymar too so that I dunno, people spend money to watch? The world’s best over-35s league? Be impressed by the glorious House of Saud? It’s not really clear to me.