On October 9, former world soccer superstar Carnavaro, now in charge of Guangzhou Evergrande, talked about his coaching career in the Chinese Super League in an interview with the Italian media and contrasted the Chinese Super League with the much-anticipated Saudi Arabia League. His words were sharp, and in the face of reporters' questions, Cannavaro shared his insights without reservation.
When talking about the Chinese Super League, Cannavaro was outspoken, pointing out that it is mostly run by private capital behind the scenes, especially in terms of professional management. In contrast, the Saudi league is led by the government and is far superior to the Chinese Super League in terms of protection. He believes that the chaotic problems that exist in the Chinese Super League, such as wage arrears, broken relationships between players and clubs going bankrupt, do not happen in Saudi Arabia, which is the fundamental motivation for players to join the Saudi Super League.
Cannavaro's comments quickly triggered a heated discussion among Chinese Super League fans and Chinese soccer enthusiasts. In the comments section, some people support his view that his remarks truly reflect the gap between the Chinese Super League and Saudi Arabia; others believe that his views are too radical. Despite the significant difference in capital background, both belong to the category of "gold dollar soccer", such a comparison is inappropriate.
It's clear that Cannavaro is unhappy with the Chinese Super League. Guangzhou Evergrande fans are also well aware of his coaching talent and the challenges he faces (especially the challenges). His career hasn't been glamorous since leaving the CSL. Although he studied under the famous Lippi, he has not achieved much so far.
Meanwhile, moves in the Saudi League have sparked the attention of soccer fans around the world. The addition of President Cristiano Ronaldo and former world-class star Benzema have put the Saudi Premier League in the spotlight. If the Saudi Premier League faces similar problems as the Chinese Super League, how to protect the interests of the stars will be in the spotlight. It is reported that Ronaldo has conducted several rounds of negotiations on this during the signing process and asked for a highly recognized agreement.
The Ronaldo effect, which has also attracted stars such as Benzema and Neymar, suggests that although the stances of Cannavaro and the Saudi fans are different, the end result may be the same. Although the phenomenon of "buying green matches" also exists in the Saudi Premier League, its effects are expected to be long-lasting.
