Giant Spanish talent wanted by Barcelona and Real finally goes to Saudi Arabia at 21

This has never been done before. So far, the players who have left for Saudi Arabia are rather older or after a failed engagement in Europe. But Gabri Veiga, the giant Spanish talent, had his whole future ahead of him at 21.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez and Fabinho. What do these stars have in common? They had already won almost everything they could in Europe, so they went to Saudi Arabia for a luxury salary at the end of their careers.

But at 21, with your whole future ahead of you and Spain at your feet? That’s very sad. Gabri Veiga had an excellent season in a Celta Vigo jersey last season.

The skilful midfielder scored 11 goals and added 4 assists in 36 La Liga games and helped Celta to salvation in a big way. He won a silver medal with the Spanish national team at the Euro U21, and was considered one of the greatest talents on the Iberian Peninsula.

Real Madrid and Barcelona were even interested in the talented youngster, but in the end both clubs wanted to let the player develop elsewhere and come up with an offer later. That’s why the transfer of Veiga to Naples was baked, where he could get enough space to prove himself.

Everything was already done, Fabrizio Romano announced his famous “here we go” to transfer to Naples. The amount was to be 30 million euros + 6 million euros in bonuses. In Italy and Spain, the transfer was considered a done deal, all that was left was the signature.

But Al-Ahli stepped in. Coach Matthias Jaissle, who previously managed Salzburg, convinced Veiga to leave for Saudi Arabia.

So the Spanish talent, at 21 years of age, resigned from a promising European career and left for Saudi Arabia in search of money. A great shame about his potential.

But he will meet some stellar teammates in Al-Ahli. He’ll come across Edouard Mendy, Franck Kessié, Allan Sainte-Maximin, Riyad Mahrez and Robert Firmin.

Source: Fabrizio Romano