Saudi prince is bringing top Pro League talent to Europe amid Newcastle United latest

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Newcastle United’s owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, are showing no signs of slowing down their seismic spending in football.

PIF‘s £305m takeover of Newcastle in October 2021 fired the starting gun on an investment spree that has seen them pump hundreds of millions into the North East club.

However, that level of expenditure is utterly dwarfed by what they are spending elsewhere in the world.

The most expensive sporting investment by far will be the 2034 World Cup, for which Saudi Arabia will be awarded the hosting rights as they are running unopposed.

The Saudis have unveiled designs for 11 new stadiums and a monumental infrastructure programme that will allow them to stage the world’s biggest event.

Gearing up for what will be among the most significant geopolitical events in the oil-rich state’s history, PIF have now invested in CONCACAF, the North, Central America and Caribbean’s confederation.

Some commentators have even suggested that, as they are frustrated by PSR constraints, Newcastle are now no longer the main priority in PIF’s wider football masterplan.

And the latest reported developments in the Kingdom may further substantiate those claims.

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Saud youth prospects to be funnelled into Europe?

Before Qatar, a tiny nation without a rich football history, hosted the World Cup in 2022, they were desperate to develop a team capable of competing in the tournament.

They did so partly by arranging for Qatari players to follow a development pathway in Europe, with the state-owned Belgian side K.A.S Eupen signing a number of young players from the Gulf nation.

Now, New York Times journalist Tariq Panja has claimed via X that Saudi Arabia could do something similar with another Belgian side, Beerschot.

Beerschot are owned by Saudi Prince Abdullah, who also owns Sheffield United, although he is currently trying to find a buyer for the South Yorkshire side.

Could Newcastle’s multi-club plans help PIF?

Since the very beginning of the PIF era at St James’ Park, the owners have been open about wanting to build a multi-club network similar to Man City’s City Football Group or the Red Bull network.

Now, Newcastle have been linked with Belgian side Standard Liege, as well as Parisian outfit Red Star.

As well as creating a pathway for young talent from Europe to come to Newcastle, a multi-club system could be a readymade network for Saudi prospects to develop ahead of the World Cup.

Besides sporting reasons, multi-club networks also give the opportunity for ownership groups to pool costs, potentially helping Newcastle with their Profit and Sustainability (PSR) position.

There are numerous commercial and regulatory benefits as well.