One of the most significant recent developments in world of football has been the rise of the Saudi Arabian league. The state’s Public Investment Fund has taken over four clubs as part of a continuing effort to pivot away from relying on fossil fuel wealth, increasing its viability as a venue for sport and leisure pursuits. This follows major investments in boxing, golf and Newcastle United.
Several high-profile footballers will be plying their trade in the Arab state next season, including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Ruben Neves.
As the world’s most high-profile Arab footballer, Mohamed Salah is now reportedly a major target for the Saudi football project.
Salah is one year into a blockbuster contract at Liverpool, but the rumoured wages of the likes of Benzema are significantly higher. Could the Egyptian King be convinced to make a shock move?
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked experienced LFC journalist Neil Jones for his thoughts on the links.
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Neil said:
“I think it’s quite obvious that he would be the jewel in the crown almost, with Ronaldo.
“I’ve spoken to a few Egyptian people recently and their feeling is it’s almost inevitable. It’s inevitable that they’ll come calling and it’ll be up to him.
“I don’t expect it this summer. I don’t think there’s a world where Liverpool think it’s too good to say ‘no’ to.
“He’s one that you’d say: ‘He’s never going to go anywhere.’ I don’t think you can say he’ll never go anywhere now. I don’t expect it at the moment.
“The Egyptian people who know the situation a bit better around that, I think they feel like it’ll be late in his career that he would do that. But again, who knows?
“I wouldn’t like to put this cloud over people, but we probably are looking at the last couple of seasons of Mo Salah as a Liverpool player anyway, aren’t we?
“This only adds to that feeling, but I don’t think he’ll go this summer.”
Redmen Reacts
There is a growing Saudi influence in the world of sport, with eye-watering wages used as an incentive to attract high-profile names in boxing, golf and football. There are similarities to the Chinese Super League, which has faded from the public consciousness in the past few years. The difference between the two leagues is that CSL clubs had to pay a 100% tax on transfers and wages, so if a player was signed for £10million, the same amount would also be paid to the government. This is not the case in Saudi Arabia. Through the PIF, four of their top clubs are now essentially state-owned and have access to vast sums of money. Any of these clubs could offer Mohammed Salah double or triple the wages he currently takes home at Liverpool. After the journey he has been on with the club, it seems unlikely that he would choose to leave at this stage. Breaking records and pushing himself to the maximum are big drivers for Mo. Hopefully, he will continue to be a ‘one-season wonder’ for at least the next two seasons. After that, as Neil says – who knows?
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