The darkest moment of Italian football? When the core of the game turns to Saudi Arabia, there are three major crises behind it

65 million euros, a 4-year contract, an annual salary of 20 million euros - these three figures have made the 26-year-old Italian main striker Retge make a decision that is enough to shock the Apennines football world. On July 22, Saudi team Caticia officially announced the signing of the Atlanta's big striker core. This deal not only set a record for the Saudi league's signings this summer, but also caught the Italian national team, which is preparing for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, off guard.

Last season, Retge handed over 49 games with 28 goals and 9 assists in Atlanta. His fulcrum and finishing ability are the most scarce resources on the Italian forward line at present. You should know that the Blues' Legion's lack of power has been serious in recent years. In the qualifying round of the European Cup last year, Retge's five key goals directly helped the team get tickets for advancement. Now with his departure, coach Spalletti has to readjust the offensive system, and there are less than two months left before the World Cup qualifiers in September.

This transfer reflects the systemic crisis facing Italian football. First, the financial attractiveness of Serie A continues to decline. Although Atlanta has made considerable returns through this deal, the club CEO Perkassi admitted: "We cannot match the salary conditions offered by Saudi Arabia. " In fact, this is the third player to leave Serie A this summer to play. Previously, Bremer and Kuppmenas have accepted Saudi Arabia's high-paying invitations.

Secondly, the national team's talent reserve lights up. The latest statistics from the Italian Football Association show that the proportion of local Serie A scorer has dropped sharply from 42% to 28% in the past five years. What's even more serious is that there are only three Italian players in the top ten Serie A scorer list, and they are all over 30 years old. The weak output of the youth training system has forced the national team to rely on naturalized players and overseas players, and Retge's departure has further exacerbated this dilemma.

The rise of the Saudi League is changing the flow of football talents. Unlike the early approach of introducing retired stars, Cadisia aims at the top of the five major leagues this time. It is worth noting that the club is controlled by Saudi Public Investment Fund, and its recruitment strategy clearly serves the national sports development strategy. It is reported that Saudi Arabia has provided a comprehensive income plan for Retji, including commercial endorsement, with actual annual income likely exceeding 30 million euros.

Facing with this talent battle, the Italian Football Association has launched emergency response measures. According to insiders, the Football Association is considering two new policies: one is to increase subsidies for local players training, and the other is to set restrictions on international players who play in Saudi Arabia. However, whether these measures can be effective still needs to be observed. After all, in the face of real money, competitive considerations often appear pale and powerless.

Retge's transfer may just be the beginning. When the rules of the game in the football world are reshaped by capital, how should traditional football powers maintain their foundation? This pain in Italian football may sound the alarm for the entire European football world. The biggest suspense now is: Who will be the next Italian international to be poached by Saudi Arabia? And where will the Blues' World Cup journey go?