Youngsters in the Saudi Market: Wesley Gassova Signed and Marcos Leonardo on the Radar

Youngsters in the Saudi Market

Wesley Gassova, formerly of Corinthians, joins Al-Nassr for $20 million.

Marcos Leonardo is another player on Al-Hilal’s radar and could soon land in Saudi Arabia.

Join us as we explore the details of both deals and the clear trend in the Saudi market, which aims to sign promising players for its league.

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Wesley Gassova at Al-Nassr

The deal is done. Corinthians have sealed the sale of Wesley Gassova to Al-Nassr for a total of $20 million, with an additional $5 million in potential add-ons.

Even before he became a regular starter for the São Paulo side, we at Calcio Deal published an article highlighting Wesley’s strengths and some of his weaknesses in our series: They Will Be Famous.

Back then, we pointed out his dribbling ability and unshakeable confidence when taking on opponents.

Since then, Wesley has established himself as a starter and was, for a period, the best player in the team.

At that time, European clubs began to take notice, and some even made offers, particularly from Premier League and Serie A sides.

However, the bids did not exceed the €18 million mark.

Corinthians, believing in their asset, were seeking offers above €25 million, hoping to reach €30 million.

The market, however, did not meet Corinthians’ expectations.

Meanwhile, Wesley’s performance began to decline gradually. With the arrival of coach Ramón Diaz, he even lost his starting position.

As a result, Corinthians saw the player’s market value drop significantly, with offers around €12 million being made.

Nevertheless, the board stuck to their high asking price.

Just two weeks before the transfer window closed, Corinthians’ prayers were answered. Al-Nassr came in with a $20 million fixed offer, plus $5 million in add-ons, quickly finalising the deal.

Do you think Wesley Gassova can perform well in the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Talisca, Mané, and company?

Image: X Al Nassr

Marcos Leonardo on Al-Hilal’s Radar

The Benfica striker had an impressive first season. At just 20 years old when he arrived, he played 21 matches for the Encarnados, mostly coming off the bench.

Despite this, he scored 7 goals.

The Portuguese side signed him from Santos for €18 million. The low fee paid for the player, who had been highly rated from a young age, was due to the relegation of the São Paulo club, which was desperately looking to raise funds.

The player’s quality, already well appreciated in Brazil, was given a small showcase in Europe.

Soon, other clubs began to show interest. Even before Al-Hilal, there was speculation about Arsenal’s interest.

The Saudi committee saw Marcos Leonardo as a good addition to their league.

There are now reports of a potential €40 million bid from Al-Hilal.

Do you think Marcos Leonardo could swap the European market for the Saudi one?

Image: FILIPE AMORIM / AFP

Youngsters in the Saudi Market

The Saudi Pro League truly wants to establish itself as one of the world’s top leagues, even though it is outside Europe.

This ambition is reflected in their relentless pursuit of promising players. If, in the past, only central European markets could make substantial investments to sign players under 21, the landscape now seems to be shifting.

Other leagues with strong financial competitiveness, like the Brazilian and Mexican leagues, typically export under-20 players and buy those nearing the end of their careers.

Now, besides Saudi Arabia, the United States has also made significant investments, aiming to compete as a strong league.

It is evident that, initially, the Saudis focused on bringing in already established players, most of whom were over 30, to draw international attention to the country.

Having done this, they are now looking to rejuvenate their teams, becoming a hub for football-exporting countries like those in South America and less powerful European leagues, such as the Dutch, Belgian, Portuguese, and Scandinavian leagues.

Do you think that even with these moves, the Saudi Pro League could become as attractive as the European leagues?

Image: Infografia ge

Written by Vitor F L Miller.