Former Napoli sports chief Pasquale Marino admits he's surprised by Al-Ahli's swoop for Gabri Veiga.

Al-Ahli trumped Napoli to land the Celta Vigo superkid this week.

Marino told Il Mattino: "I did not imagine that the sheikhs could go for this type of player, also because (Aurelio) De Laurentiis he moved well under the radar and doing everything in silence as always. By now we have to take this reality into account.

"We must accept that today there is greater competition. The phenomenon is due to greater and evident liquidity. But it does not mean, however, that everything is negative. Pharaonic investments that the Arabs make, paying the players to the clubs bring liquidity to the clubs that sell. It is also a rain mechanism, which provides for greater well-being of the clubs on the global market.

"Like any novelty in a market, it will only be necessary to wait for everything to rebalance itself. There will be more wealth in the club, but it will also be necessary to have greater scouting skills as well as deal with adequate means."