Saudi Arabia – The Empire of The Kop

(Video) Transfer update; Richard Keys provides Mo Salah to Saudi Arabia update

Peter Kenny Jones — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:50:36 +0000

Mo Salah’s possible departure to Saudi Arabia filled the column inches towards the end of the summer and now there’s another update on his future.

Speaking on beIN Sports, Richard Keys said: “The feeling is that Mo Salah might not, after all, be on his way to Saudi Arabia – that’s all we can tell you.”

It seems then that we can be confident our Egyptian King will remain at Anfield for another year past this summer, which will be great news for many.

It’s a shame that the same can’t be said for Jurgen Klopp but we have many of his key players who will remain after he leaves Merseyside.

You can watch Keys’ comments on Salah via @beINSPORTS_EN on X:

@richardajkeys has an interesting update on the future of the Egyptian King Mo Salah! #beINPL #LFC #CRYLIV pic.twitter.com/HSS4vuCjxM

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) April 14, 2024

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Henderson ‘may never be paid’ for six-month Saudi switch; ‘cost him millions’

Peter Kenny Jones — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:47:13 +0000

Jordan Henderson made a bold decision to swap Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq in the summer and for many it was a decision fueled by financial gain, something he may never receive.

As reported by Telegraph Sport: ‘Henderson’s U-turn is set to cost him millions and Telegraph Sport can now reveal that he has left Saudi without earning any of his £350,000-a-week wages to date, with sources close to the player believing he may never be paid for the six months he spent at Al-Ettifaq.’

To think that the 33-year-old sacrificed a position as a squad player for a team sat top of the Premier League, to enjoy a penniless switch to the side that sit eighth in the Saudi Pro League and are without a win in nine – is still baffling.

It’s tough for our supporters to see the likes of Steven Gerrard and Gini Wijnaldum also be part of the side based in Dammam, as we should want to support club legends in the rest of their careers.

However, when we add in the sports washing side of all this too – it’s amazing to hear that our former captain is now facing losing money after siding with a nation that was seemingly so far from his morals.

It seems that everyone has a price but when you’re not even provided the funds for this blot of his near perfect CV, the England international must regret this decision more than any other he’s made.

His legacy at Anfield will remain strong and there will always be a great reception on Merseyside for the man who won it all as a Red and lifted every trophy for us along the way.

However, some will never forgive the Sunderland-born midfielder for moving to the middle east and that’s something he will have to live with – something a lot more costly than his personal finances.

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Jordan Henderson’s Saudi exit confirmed by Ornstein; leaves Ettifaq after six months

Peter Kenny Jones — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:09:01 +0000

Liverpool fans were shocked to see Jordan Henderson leave the Reds last summer but the club that he chose to swap us for created headlines around the world.

Now though, David Ornstein has confirmed in The Athletic that it’s all coming to a premature end: ‘Jordan Henderson has reached an agreement with Al Ettifaq to leave the Saudi Pro League club.’

Our former captain is settling a termination of his contract for Steven Gerrard’s side and so his three-year contract will end after just six months in the middle east.

This means that Al-Ettifaq will not receive a fee for his services, which is another kick in the teeth for them after making such a statement in securing the England international’s services in the summer.

This will surely mean that our former captain will regret the decision to end a 12-year stay at Anfield, given how publicly criticised he’s been for making the move.

It also appears that claims of helping to build the division and excitement about playing in the Saudi Pro League has ended at the earliest opportunity for the Sunderland-born midfielder.

When you see how James Milner stayed in the Premier League and has extended his legacy at the top level, whereas his former midfield partner and Bobby Firmino are already trying to move again – it shows who made the right decision after leaving Merseyside.

It’s sad to see the decimation of a reputation and perhaps the role of a squad player for Jurgen Klopp should have been gratefully accepted by a 33-year-old whose career is now in disarray.

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(Video) Shearer comments on moving proposed Liverpool fixture to Saudi Arabia

Peter Kenny Jones — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 16:31:52 +0000

It’s hard to ignore the growing influence of Saudi Arabia within world football and this had led to Alan Shearer commenting on the impact it could have on Liverpool.

Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’, Gary Lineker asked what the reaction would be in England if (as they do in Spain for the Spanish Super Cup) the Carabao Cup final was played in the middle east.

The Match of the Day host asked: “how do you think that would be received here, if suddenly they went, ‘right, Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool – you’re going to play in Saudi Arabia?”

The Geordie replied by saying: “it wouldn’t go down well at all.”

It’s a huge understatement from the 53-year-old as you can only imagine the backlash from our supporters and further afield, if the league cup final was moved thousands of miles away.

You can watch Shearer’s comments on Liverpool playing in Saudi Arabia (from 36:58) via The Rest Is Football on Youtube:

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Liverpool fans will revel in what Fabinho has said about whether Salah should go to Saudi Arabia

Liam Togher — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 15:01:10 +0000

Fabinho’s bosses at Al-Ittihad mightn’t be overly thrilled with what he’s had to say about Mo Salah possibly joining him in Saudi Arabia, but Liverpool fans surely will.

The Egyptian winger was the subject of a £150m bid from the Jeddah club at the end of the summer transfer window, but the Anfield hierarchy rejected it out of hand (The Guardian).

They could try their luck for the 31-year-old again next year in an attempt to reunite him with his former Reds teammate, but the Brazilian midfielder insists he’s quite happy to see our number 11 continuing to make history on Merseyside.

Speaking to talkSPORT after Al-Ittihad beat Auckland City 3-0 in the Club World Cup on Tuesday, Fabinho said: “At this moment Mo Salah is happy at Liverpool. He’s scoring goals every game and he has been their best player.

“I’m very happy for Mo. This season he will stay at Liverpool so I wish him all the best and hope he keeps scoring goals and winning trophies with Liverpool.”

Any Liverpool fans who were scorned by Fabinho departing the club for Saudi Arabia in the summer will probably now forgive him for encouraging Salah to stay put at Anfield even if Al-Ittihad try again to sign him.

The 31-year-old became only the fifth player in the Reds’ history to reach 200 goals when he netted against Crystal Palace on Saturday, his equaliser in the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park taking his tally for the season to 14 (Transfermarkt).

Very few players have scored so consistently for so long in a red shirt, and if he continues to come up with the goods over the next five months, he could well add to his trophy haul at LFC.

With other ex-Liverpool players in Steven Gerrard, Bobby Firmino and Jordan Henderson discovering that the grass isn’t necessarily greener in the riches of Saudi Arabia, it’s refreshing to hear Fabinho being so candid, perhaps realising that the country’s top flight isn’t befitting of its glitzy status.

All we have to say to Mo Salah is, listen to your former teammate – he gives good career advice!

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Robbie Fowler breaks silence after shocking sacking in Saudi Arabia

Peter Kenny Jones — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:53:35 +0000

Robbie Fowler enjoyed a strong start to life as a manager in the second tier of Saudi Arabian football but his contract was mysteriously terminated and now the former forward has spoken publicly for the first time.

Taking to his X account, the Scouser wrote: ‘Disappointed with how it ended but can’t thank this fella enough, totally on board with our project from the very first minute. Hopefully I can speak more when the time is right’.

It seems pretty clear that the 48-year-old isn’t best pleased to have lost his job at Al-Qadsiah and it’s still quite a sore subject for him.

With the former Manchester City man sitting in second place in the league, it had been far from disastrous for him in the middle east.

However, the decision was made after just four months in charge that the man who has experiencing coaching Thai side Muangthong United, Australian outfit Brisbane Roar and Indian club East Bengal – wasn’t the right fit any more.

Despite claims of a mutual agreement to end the contract, it seems that the club have left this saga a lot happier than their former gaffer.

It’ll be a case of dusting himself down and looking for whatever opportunity next feels right for our former No.9, who has already shown he’s not afraid to travel far and wide for work.

We can only look forward to when the ‘Toxteth Terror’ does have the chance to speak about what really happened.

You can view Fowler’s comments via his X account:

Thanks for the gift Andre, it was a pleasure
Disappointed with how it ended but can’t thank this fella enough, totally on board with our project from the very first minute. Hopefully I can speak more when the time is right. pic.twitter.com/dsNEfYTaCJ

— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) November 6, 2023

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‘Honestly…’ – Romano sheds light on reported Saudi summer interest in ‘superb’ Liverpool ace

Liam Togher — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:43:08 +0000

Fabrizio Romano has shed light on reports of interest from Saudi Arabia in Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the summer.

An extraordinary transfer window saw clubs from the Middle Eastern nation lure a number of high-profile players from European leagues with offers of gargantuan wages, with former Reds Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino all relocating there.

Al-Ittihad also made an audacious attempt to sign Mo Salah, but the Anfield hierarchy refused to entertain the Saudi Pro League champions’ £150m offer (The Guardian).

In his Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside, Romano speculated that a club from the Gulf state could set a new world-record transfer fee in the next couple of years, before then addressing reported interest in the Liverpool goalkeeper, who was targeted by Al-Nassr in August (The Mirror).

The Italian said: “Honestly, however, I’m not aware of anything concrete from Saudi for Alisson last summer, despite the rumours. There were never concrete proposals or official bids, interest always there for a fantastic GK like Alisson but not concrete deal or negotiations.

“The Brazilian is now in superb form for Liverpool, showing again why he’s so important for the Reds. Personally I have loved Alisson since he was at Roma, he’s a top goalkeeper, one of the best, for sure.”

Some Liverpool fans may have been sweating at the prospect of Salah leaving in the final days of the Saudi transfer window in early September, and the loss of Alisson would’ve been just as bad.

Despite being criminally overlooked for a Yashin Trophy nomination this year (GOAL), the Brazilian has been one of the best Premier League goalkeepers in modern times, and the best to play for the Reds since the division’s rebranding in 1992.

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Supporters have lost count of the number of times he’s performed heroics for Jurgen Klopp’s side, and he was it again last Saturday with two sublime saves in quick succession against Tottenham.

In the top flight last season, the number of post-shot expected goals he faced was 10.1 higher than the number he conceded (FBref), illustrating a remarkable ability to save shots that he realistically wouldn’t be expected to keep out of his net.

If Saudi clubs come back in for Alisson in 2024, Liverpool need to be just as firm in their stance on him as they mercifully were for Salah when Al-Ittihad came calling a month ago.

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EPL striker suggests exit-linked Liverpool player was ‘ready to go’ and could still depart in 2024

Liam Togher — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:14:47 +0000

Michail Antonio has suggested that Mo Salah was ‘ready’ to leave Liverpool during the summer in the wake of transfer interest from Saudi Arabia.

In the final few days before the deadline, the Egyptian was the subject of a big-money bid from Al-Ittihad which would’ve seen him earn a reported £1.5m per week (Sky Sports), but the Reds promptly rejected it amid their unrelenting stance that the attacker isn’t for sale.

However, the West Ham forward believes our number 11 would’ve happily taken the finances on offer had the Anfield hierarchy been more receptive to the Saudi attempts at a transfer, and seems to think that the move could yet happen.

Speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Antonio said of Salah: “He didn’t turn that down, no way. He was locked up and the Reds had put that red arrow across: ‘You are not going anywhere’. He did not stop that at all.

“To be fair to him, he didn’t kick up a fuss and let them do what they were doing. But I know for a fact that he was ready to go.”

Antonio seems adamant in his belief that Salah would’ve happily left if Liverpool hadn’t so flatly rejected Al-Ittihad’s offer, although it’d be interesting to find out whether the two players had actually spoken about it of whether the West Ham forward is simply second-guessing a fellow professional.

Whatever the 31-year-old might’ve felt about the interest from Saudi Arabia, it’s clear from his performances that he’s still as dedicated to his current club as ever, either scoring or setting up at least goal in every game so far this season (Transfermarkt).

It’s not unthinkable that the Egyptian could make the move to the Middle East in 2024, by which time he’ll have been at Anfield for seven seasons and may feel that the moment is right for a new challenge elsewhere.

We obviously hope Salah doesn’t follow the likes of Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Bobby Firmino to Saudi Arabia next year, given how immense he’s been for Liverpool ever since he arrived six years ago and how crucial a player he continues to be for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Long may he keep banging in the goals on Merseyside!

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Fabrizio Romano explains why ‘Klopp got angry’ over one question at Liverpool press conference

Liam Togher — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 07:06:45 +0000

Fabrizio Romano has shed further light on why Jurgen Klopp ‘got angry’ over a question regarding Mo Salah’s future at Liverpool in a press conference on Friday.

When addressing the media yesterday ahead of this afternoon’s clash against Wolves, the Reds manager was clearly unhappy at being asked about the possibility of the 31-year-old leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2024, following strong transfer speculation in recent weeks.

In his eponymous Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside on Saturday morning, the Italian reporter shared the latest on the situation regarding the Egypt attacker.

Romano outlined: “At the moment, there’s absolutely nothing advanced or concrete between Salah and Saudi Arabia. The window closed a few days ago so if they wanted anything to be done, they had the chance to do it then.

“The strategy for the January window will be made later, around November. The situation regarding Salah is quiet now after a busy summer. Klopp got angry as there’s nothing ongoing for Salah at present, just feeling that Saudis could return in 2024.”

Klopp would clearly have been hoping that the discourse surrounding Salah’s future would’ve been put on the backburner once the Saudi Pro League transfer window shut last week and the Egyptian stayed at Liverpool.

Alas, the rumours of a potential move to the Middle East in 2024 look set to rumble on throughout the autumn and into the winter.

Once the summer transfer window fades from view and the matches come thick and fast, the speculation might subside in deference to the action on the pitch, but it’ll likely appear firmly back in focus by the time December rolls around and the January market is approaching.

The intense reporting around Salah over the past month or so could prompt Liverpool’s recruitment team to look deeply at sourcing potential replacements for next year if the club are no longer able to resist offers such as the £150m bid which was tabled a fortnight ago.

In the meantime, we hope that the 31-year-old will continue to rack up the goals at the consistently extraordinary rate which has seen him become one of the Reds’ top five most prolific players of all time.

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Agent claims Liverpool will find it ‘harder’ to stop one player from leaving Anfield in 2024

Liam Togher — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:43:47 +0000

One football agent has said that Liverpool will find it ‘harder’ to keep hold of Mo Salah in 2024, having resisted Saudi Arabian attempts to lure him from Anfield in recent weeks.

An eye-watering £150m offer was presented to the Reds by Al-Ittihad at the beginning of September, but LFC chiefs were unflinching in their stance that the 31-year-old isn’t for sale and duly rejected the bid.

However, in a survey of multiple agents conducted by The Athletic, the Egyptian moving to the Middle East was cited as the joint-most frequent response when they were asked which deal they expect to happen in January.

One of those surveyed stated: “He’ll have six months less on his contract (in January) and it becomes harder for Liverpool to turn down the money the Saudis will be offering.”

Everyone associated with Liverpool was just glad to get to last Thursday’s Saudi Pro League transfer deadline with Salah still a Reds player, considering how persistent Al-Ittihad had reportedly been in their pursuit of the forward.

However, following a summer which saw a plethora of high-profile players flocking from Europe to the Middle East, it’d be naive to think that the interest in the Egypt superstar will go away just because clubs can’t make any new signings until 2024.

The 31-year-old was reportedly being offered a gargantuan £1.5m per week to team up with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side (Sky Sports), which even for someone earning £350,000 every seven days (Capology) must be highly tempting.

By January, Salah will have 18 months left on his contract at Liverpool, and a pragmatic outlook would determine that accepting a nine-figure offer for someone who turns 32 next June and would have just a year left on his deal makes perfect sense.

However, that’d ignore the reality that the Egyptian is no ordinary footballer. You don’t let one of the world’s best players slip through the exit door without being 100% convinced that the time is right to cash in and that you can replace him adequately (or already have).

The rumours may well persist throughout the autumn and winter, but at least in the meantime we can still enjoy our iconic number 11 banging in the goals at Anfield, just as he’s done so consistently ever since his arrival in 2017.

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James Pearce praises Liverpool for ‘smart move’ which could’ve helped to keep hold of one player

Liam Togher — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:58:46 +0000

James Pearce has praised Liverpool for a ‘smart move’ which may well have played a part in keeping one sought-after player at Anfield this summer.

The transfer window was dominated by the Saudi Pro League luring numerous high-profile footballers to the Middle East, with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho among the influx.

Al-Ittihad also submitted a lucrative bid for Mo Salah, but the Reds rejected it out of hand and were unflinching in their ‘not for sale’ standpoint.

As revealed by Pearce for The Athletic, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was also wanted by Saudi Arabia, but a timely pay increase ultimately came in very useful in making the player feel ‘fully appreciated’ at Anfield.

The journalist wrote: “Alisson was also the subject of serious interest from Saudi, but Liverpool’s owners made it clear no offers would be entertained. Their stance was unequivocal – just as it was over Al Ittihad’s pursuit of Salah.

“The Brazilian goalkeeper is happy and settled at the club. Before the interest from Saudi, he received a considerable pay rise this summer after a clause was triggered in his existing contract which runs until 2027. He’s understood to be the squad’s third-highest earner behind Salah and [Virgil] Van Dijk.

“It proved a smart move, given that Alisson, who has been in outstanding form, felt fully appreciated at a time when eye-watering sums of cash were being offered in an attempt to attract players to the Saudi Pro League.”

Just as resisting Saudi overtures for Salah was imperative for Liverpool, so was their equally uncompromising stance on Alisson, who’s every bit as important to Jurgen Klopp’s team as the Egyptian forward.

Time and again, the Brazil goalkeeper has come up with the goods when the Reds needed him, his value to the team exemplified by his incredible save from Miguel Almiron in the recent win over Newcastle at a time in the first half when we were 1-0 down and reduced to 10 men.

Such heroics aren’t in isolation, either. As noted by The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans this week, the 30-year-old outperformed the number of ‘expected goals on target’ against him last season by 10.52, a return exceeded by only one Premier League goalkeeper.

It won’t have surprised any Liverpool fan to see former Red Adam Bogdan label Alisson ‘supernatural’ and ‘a perfect goalie’ when speaking on The Kopite Podcast in recent days.

He’s repeatedly proven his importance to the team ever since he arrived at Anfield five years ago, and his pay rise was more than deserved.

As Pearce pointed out, it could’ve been a crucial decision by the club’s hierarchy to bump up the Brazilian’s wages just before the transfer interest arrived from Saudi Arabia. The thought of losing him to the Middle East during the summer would’ve been incomprehensible.

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Saudi World Cup bid may hinge partly on £52m Liverpool payment – report

Peter Kenny Jones — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:53:55 +0000

Liverpool have a rather unwanted strong connection with Saudi Arabia, given the presence of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane in their attempted challenge of the football hierarchy but some concerns have come from this.

It was reported by Nick Ames in The Guardian that: ‘European clubs are seeking guarantees that they will be paid the huge transfer fees agreed with Saudi Arabian clubs in full after a summer of unprecedented spending that has reshaped the transfer market’.

Given the sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League, we would seemingly be one of those who are fearing the full fees not being paid – a reported total of £52 million (via Football Insider).

Speaking with Football Insider, finance expert Kieran Maguire eased these concerns and claimed: “Clubs in Saudi Arabia will be under pressure to ensure that all signings and payments are made appropriately.

“They are fully aware that their proposal to host the World Cup in 2030 or 2034 is being considered.

“Given that Fifa monitors all outstanding international transfer debts, it would look very poor if there were a significant number of clubs from the Saudi Pro League who had not honoured their financial commitments.

“So I don’t see this as being an issue going forwards.

“The metrics and optics of failing to pay would look so bad that it could potentially scupper a Saudi World Cup bid.“

Therefore, it seems that we shouldn’t be too concerned that Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad won’t pay the Reds what they owe for two of our former midfield stars because they have so much riding on making the payments.

If this sports washing attempt from those in the Middle East is to be completed, they will want a World Cup to show off their riches and improved football excellence.

To do that, we and many others will need to be paid in full otherwise a bid will be outright rejected at the outset.

Let’s hope this proves true in terms of money although a future where the Saudi Pro League continues to dominate world football – could well be a worrying one.

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(Video) Sports agent weighs in on Henderson debate; says move wasn’t for the money

Peter Kenny Jones — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:49:08 +0000

Jordan Henderson has put himself in the spotlight with a move to Saudi Arabia and many have weighed in with their opinion on his decision but he’s now had some support for the transfer to the Middle East.

Speaking on the BBC’s The Football News Show, sports agent Nick Robinson said: “Someone like Jordan Henderson who’s won absolutely everything in the game and has basically peaked in terms of his Premier League career, I think your decision is, seperate from the financial gain:

“‘Do I want to see myself over the next two years possibly dwindling in terms of game time, possibly be transferred to a mid or lower-level Premier League team, or possibly to the Championship and working my way down the leagues?’.

“Or, ‘Do I want to go and compete at a very vibrant, very up-and-coming league, with some of the best players in the world and certainly all of the eyes of the world, to go and win some more trophies and have some new life experiences?’.”

It’s certainly a fair argument to make that a move to play with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bobby Firmino, is possibly more exciting than a lower league club like Everton or dropping down the leagues to a Tranmere Rovers.

However, our former captain wasn’t on the brink of retirement and he was still Jurgen Klopp’s captain with a lot to add to our side.

His decision has caused debate and will continue to do so but at the very least, the Sunderland-born midfielder has sullied his legacy at Anfield for some and it’s hard to say it wasn’t in the search of money.

You can watch Robinson’s comments on Henderson via BBC Sport:

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(Video) Rodri’s painfully ironic comments about players moving to Saudi Arabia for money

Peter Kenny Jones — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 10:29:03 +0000

To say that Saudi Arabia have disturbed the status quo in football would not be an understatement but if there’s one club in England who can’t really moan about the power of money in the game – it’s Manchester City.

Despite this, Rodri spoke with the media and had some painfully ironic comments on the Saudi Pro League: “Evidently, European football loses with this situation and it is a very particular opinion of the players who decide to go out to these leagues.

“It is totally understandable due to the amounts of money they offer. I think it’s a personal issue for everyone to decide for themselves.

“We Europeans don’t really like it. It must be controlled in some way this drain of talent because at first it seemed like it was just veterans in the twilight of their careers, but there are young people now who are leaving. They are respectable decisions, but the people who take action must control this situation.”

Saying that the spending of the new league ‘must be controlled’ is certainly a statement to make for a man who plays for a club who is currently being investigated for over 100 financial breaches themselves.

The argument the Spaniard is making isn’t wrong but when you play for a club that bought its way to success and have consistently overspent in order to get there – you’re not the right person to put the case forward.

You can watch Rodri’s comments on Saudi Arabia via @SkySportsNews on X:

Manchester City midfielder Rodri believes people in charge of football need to take control of the exodus of top players joining the Saudi Pro League. pic.twitter.com/0PIn3j2JWX

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 8, 2023

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Egypt’s relationship with Saudi Arabia could hand Liverpool huge Salah transfer boost – report

Peter Kenny Jones — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:58:55 +0000

Mo Salah is not just a Liverpool icon but also an Egyptian one too, something which may seem like an obvious statement but is now causing some debate over whether a move to Saudi Arabia is really on the cards.

In an article for The Athletic, Simon Hughes has highlighted how the growth of the Saudi Pro League has led to some jealousy from those in Egypt as the game between Al Nassr and Al Hilal is now considered the biggest in the Middle East.

This opinion upsets those within our No.11’s home nation because the match between Al Ahly and Zamalek (the Cairo derby) used to be the most anticipated game in the region.

This is just part of the full article that continues to then look into the political landscape of the relationship between the nation that our Egyptian King was born in and the one that he is being so heavily linked to join.

It’s perhaps best described when Hughes states: ‘Any footballer whose wages are paid by a state becomes a tool of that state. By moving to Saudi, Salah would be entering a world he has tried to avoid for his whole career. Until now, his career had been dictated purely by his form on a football field, his public image carefully curated with selective media appearances and a reliably uncontroversial social media output. Joining the Saudi Pro League would make his future reliant on relations and diplomacy well beyond his control.

‘Ultimately, he could have chosen to stop the talk about his future last week in an instant. A month ago, his agent Ramy Abbas dismissed the notion of moving to Saudi; there has been no such intervention this time’.

Although it’s my no means a forgone conclusion that the 31-year-old will be leaving the club in the coming hours, it does seem that this won’t be the last we hear about a possible move to the SPL.

The former Roma man could have easily ended these rumours with an over zealous celebration against Aston Villa, or a kiss of the badge but he doesn’t seem 100% against the idea of leaving Anfield.

If we have the ability to add on a possible disappointment in the move not just from the club he’s grown to love but from his home nation too, then perhaps we can delay this even further than January and beyond.

Although the money on offer will likely be life-changing, we will all be thinking that an inability to replace our most important attacking player could cost us a lot more than any money we make.

There’s not long left of this window in Saudi Arabia and let’s hope that it ends with Mo Salah still plying his trade for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

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