Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada expressed interest in seeing Saudi clubs compete in the UEFA Champions League. He admitted he would be “foolish” not to be interested, though the decision remains beyond the Saudi Pro League’s control.
Calzada emphasized the appeal of the competition, stating, “Our aspiration is to put our product in front of as many people as possible. The UEFA Champions League is the biggest club competition in the world.”
Ceferin’s Stand and Future Prospects
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin dismissed the possibility of Saudi teams joining Europe’s premier competition last year. However, Saudi clubs, including Al Hilal, remain eager should the situation change in the future.
Calzada added, “I couldn’t say we wouldn’t like it. But how realistic is it? I have no idea, and it’s out of my control.”
FIFA Club World Cup as Key Focus
Despite the UEFA uncertainty, Al Hilal will participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, a significant event for the club. The expanded 32-team competition has drawn legal actions in Europe due to concerns over player welfare.
However, Calzada sees it as an opportunity to compete against European clubs. “It’s the most important competition of the season for us,” he said. “It’s a chance to project ourselves globally and measure our level against top European teams.”
Addressing Koeman’s Criticism
Calzada, a former Barcelona executive, recently reacted to Ronald Koeman’s comments regarding Saudi football. Koeman criticized players moving to Saudi clubs, emphasizing that ambition should focus on sporting goals rather than financial gain.
“I found those statements disappointing. They are unfair and misguided. Many players in Saudi Arabia continue to represent their national teams. For instance, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Neves play for Al Nassr and Al Hilal, respectively,” Calzada noted.
He expressed sympathy for Dutch players, emphasizing that such views might stem from a misunderstanding of the league’s quality and significance.
