Saudi Pro League: Romano hails Al-Nassr’s “smart” route to the top

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Al-Nassr’s rise to become Saudi Pro League champions is evidence that success in Saudi football is no longer achieved by financial power alone.

Romano believes the competition’s development is increasingly being shaped by recruitment strategy and long-term planning, as well as the substantial investment made by its clubs.

Speaking on the “Al-Manassa” programme on Thmanyah, the Italian journalist said the Saudi Pro League transfer market was experiencing “really significant growth”.

He said that progress should not be measured only by the amount of money being spent, but also by the way clubs are identifying and assembling their squads.

Romano highlighted Al-Nassr as an example of that change, referring to the work carried out by the club’s management and recruitment team.

“If you see, for example, Al-Nassr with people like Semedo or Simao Coutinho and their team, and now being champions, it was a very smart strategy,” Romano said.

He then outlined his view on how successful teams should be constructed, arguing that clubs need to target a particular profile of player rather than simply pursue the most expensive options.

“I always say: go for the free agent, the big leader. This type of player will build the perfect strategy,” he said.

Romano added that the transformation of the Saudi Pro League was not simply a consequence of wealthy clubs being able to outbid their rivals.

“So I think sometimes it’s not only about money, it’s also about being as smart as possible,” he said.

The comments came during an active summer transfer window in the Saudi Pro League, with clubs strengthening their squads ahead of the new season. The league is expected to attract further interest from international football supporters, while the title race and the battle for places in Asian competitions are both expected to be fiercely contested.

Several high-profile deals have already underlined the scale of the recruitment drive. Al-Hilal strengthened their squad by signing Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United for €64.5m and Mohamed Merhazi from Al-Taawoun for €7.6m. They also allowed Marcos Leonardo to leave for Ajax in a deal worth €19.9m.

Al-Nassr added Samu Costa from RCD Mallorca for €22m, while Al-Ittihad completed deals including the signing of Jan-Carlo Simic from Anderlecht for €15m and Dion Lopy from UD Almeria for €13m.

Al-Ahli’s principal additions included Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP for €39m and Eduard Spertsyan from FC Krasnodar for €21.9m. The club also signed Abdullah Al-Radif from Al-Hilal on a free transfer.

Al-Qadsiah made one of the biggest moves of the window by bringing in Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City for €61m.

Other clubs, including Al-Shabab and Neom, have also been active, making a mixture of domestic and international signings. The breadth of those deals reflects the continued investment by Saudi clubs as they seek to improve their competitiveness both at home and across Asia.

For Romano, however, the significance of Al-Nassr’s title-winning campaign lies in what it says about the league’s changing identity. Financial resources remain an important part of the Saudi Pro League’s growth, but effective recruitment and clear squad-building plans are becoming just as important in determining which clubs reach the top.