Pep Guardiola admitted that the Saudi Pro League’s financial muscle can no longer be ignored after Manchester City were powerless to stop Riyad Mahrez leaving.
Mahrez has sealed a £30million move to Al-Ahli with reported wages as high as £750,000 a week, leaving City with decisions to make on potential replacements.
Premier League stars Jordan Henderson, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Edouard Mendy and Allan Saint-Maximin have also cashed in on the riches offered in Saudi Arabia.
Guardiola – who claimed that he wanted to keep Mahrez at the Etihad Stadium - believes more will follow, presenting a problem for the country’s biggest clubs.