Saudi Arabia is changing the image of a country far from football and » knocks out the transfer market. All thanks to government injections: a local investment fund took under the wing of the top clubs of the Pro League and began to overspend. Sheikhs interrupt offers from Europeans who are unable to destroy the «golden mountains».
At the end of 2022, the track Cristiano Ronaldo trampled to warmer climes How to refuse a sweet contract for 2.5 years with a salary of € 200 million per season without bonuses? to be rehabilitated in the national team for the disastrous World Cup 2022 in Qatar.However, the December story seemed an exception to the rule — then no one believed in a massive «float» of stars to the Persian Gulf.
A little more than six months have passed … The number of cool acquisitions is seriously hitting the level of football in Europe, which has already left a number of extra-class athletes. To give just a few examples:
- Current Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzemais now at Al Ittihad «;
- He was joined by the 2018 world champion Ngolo Kante;
- One of the best goalkeepers of the world Edouard Mendychanged Chelsea to Al Ahli;
- Jurgen Klopp's best Liverpool striker, Roberto Firmino;
- For a crazy 60 million euros will soon be transferred from Zenit to Al-Hilal by the four-time champion of Russia Malcom.
There were rumors about the purchase of Lionel Messi. However, the Argentine was not fascinated by financial opportunities and opted for the American offspring of David Beckham called Inter Miami.
On Monday, the leader of the French national team and Paris Saint-Germain Kylian Mbappe was in the spotlight. The management overlaid the striker from all sides: at first they threatened with a place on the bench throughout the 2023/24 season, and now they have not been included in the team's application for the pre-season tour of Japan. An expensive asset may be wasted in a year, because the world champion who dreams of Real Madrid is not going to renew his contract.
PSG found themselves in an unenviable situation. From the Frenchman must be urgently disposed of.
Fortunately, the top scorer of the last World Cup has his eye on «Al-Hilal». The club is ready to use the money that they wanted to spend on Messi to buy (and a fabulous salary) Mbappe. They promise the following:
- €300 million for the club. The record set in 2017, when Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for €222 million, will fall;
- Record € 700 million for a 24-year-old player(more than 63 billion rubles!);
- The agreement is for a season only. Next summer, the striker will pack his bags and go to the Santiago Bernabeu with peace of mind.
According to Sky Sports, PSG have already accepted an offer for Mbappé. Now the word is up to Kilian, who was given permission to negotiate with Saudi Arabian spenders. =»100%» height=»100%» allow=»autoplay; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture;» frameborder=»0″ allowfullscreen=»»>
From such an outcome of the transfer saga, both PSG and the player himself will benefit. For him, the Madrid trip will be a new challenge: to play a leading role in a big project of 14-time Champions of the Champions League — this excites a bored Kylian. A year in Saudi Arabia is unlikely to affect the level (the six-time French champion only needs to do without injuries).
However, why should Al-Hilal spend so much for one season? The question is rhetorical. Money is not counted in the East, so many similar acquisitions are still ahead of us.
* * *True, the PSG striker himself is not yet eager to leave Paris. Mbappe does not want to go to Saudi Arabia and, according to Relevo, is ready to polish the shop all season.
To be honest, Kilian's choice is strange.