Thread by @JacobsBen

A 🧵 of PIF's (KSA-specific... and yes there will be broader, too) strategic goals away from football. Imminent focus and fan interest will naturally be around staffing the football department and the next transfer window, but there are clear brand goals tied in to Vision 2030.

The first commercial task will be to find a front of shirt sponsor. PIF don't want a betting partner long term (sources have always admitted this) & British government could ban foreign gaming firms anyway. More details by end of 2021 on latter.

Saudi is launching a new national airline to rival Emirates & Qatar Airways. This or 'Visit Saudi' messaging are likely. Consortium will respect the Fun88 agreement, but it's very much a Mike Ashley deal they've inherited due to the takeover delay.

A commercial deal with Aramco is possible, too, especially with Yasir Al Rumayyan their chair. But Vision 2030 is really about creating business away from oil rather than partnering with it to invest in football. Interesting to see if that puts PIF off anything too prominent.

PIF also want to bring #NUFC to KSA at some point. This will likely be the next off-season. The Riyadh Season Cup (in Jan 2022, as part of an entertainment festival) will see PSG face a Saudi XI (coached by Wenger). This is a one-off game but plan is for future mini tournaments.

It is probable Newcastle will be involved in future events, especially as the concept evolves. Am told PIF also want to create Newcastle coaching centres in KSA. Arsenal, Juventus and PSG have done this with great success across MENA to date.

Thankfully, there will be no Real Madrid style 'theme park' (which never got going in Ras Al Khaimah). But there is talk of mass watch parties (when Covid safe) and a big drive to sell Newcastle merchandise at Saudi airports. Visibility in KSA is key.

PIF also want to tie Newcastle in with NEOM. NEOM ('New Future') is a super city with a big sports focus. It has already hosted the inaugural Beach Soccer Cup in 2019 and was part of the 2021 Dakar Rally.

The strategic aim, along with commercialising the club and growing reach, is also to create more jobs in Saudi. This is another pivotal aim of Vision 2030.

It is likely elements of Vision 2030 will translate to Newcastle as a city as well. PIF want to invest in the community not just the football club and in doing so show an improvement in 'quality of life'. This comes through wider investment and jobs.

That may sound quite vague (and is currently), but it's part of a desire to implement a more specific Quality of Life Programme, spearheaded by the football club, similar to the 2018 one the Vision 2030 team launched.

Also told #NUFC are considering starting an Arabic social media handle to try and target new fans. LaLiga is still more popular than the EPL in KSA, but there's a real loyalty to foreign players over clubs. Thus, if #NUFC sign a star name they'll gain an instant following in KSA.

The final point relates to club partnerships. Nothing concrete discussed with Saudi Professional League yet, perhaps due to speed takeover happened. Sides like Al Nassr and Al Hilal have big fanbases and there is an appetite to explore ways #NUFC can help develop young talent.

If this happens, it would be more about #NUFC sharing best coaching practices with clubs, and putting their name to football schools, rather than sending more established players to SJP. Although don't rule out a KSA international or two being considered 😉

Essentially, the consortium will have two strategies: one football-centric, one Saudi-centric. Former addresses the team, the latter the brand & there's obvious crossover. All pretty normal for a foreign-owned club, but I see PIF being more invested in the latter than the former.

PIF will be thinking global not just Saudi, but Vision 2030 tenets will be at their back of their mind when considering much of the above.