Daniele Orsato, who is considered one of Italy’s top referees, is tempted to move to Saudi Arabia after receiving a lucrative offer. The Saudi government has increasingly placed their focus on football over the last year, starting with Al-Nassr’s acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo. In the summer, a long list of players received rich offers from various clubs backed by the sovereign wealth fund, sending ripples across European football. A number of players have already made the jump to Saudi Arabia, including Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neymar, Karim Benzema and former Italy coach Roberto Mancini. The government has shown no signs of slowing down and are expected to continue offering lucrative deals in the coming months.
Italian newspaper Tuttosport details how Orsato has received a rich proposal from Saudi Arabia, which would double his salary should he agree to officiate in the Saudi Pro League. He is tempted to accept and could make the jump at the end of this season. Considered one of Italy’s best referees, this situation has caused concern for the AIA – the Italian Referees Association – as he was believed to be one of the top candidates to replace Gianluca Rocchi as the new president of the organisation, after retiring from the field. The Saudi offer to Orsato could also see him become a director or executive within their footballing structure.
Source: Football Italia