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Tag: Saudi

  • I want to write new sporting history in Saudi – Neymar

    I want to write new sporting history in Saudi – Neymar

    Former Paris Saint-Germain star, Neymar Jr has revealed why he left the Ligue 1 champions to join Saudi Arabian club.

    The Brazilian stated that he wants to write new sporting history.

    He noted that rather than money, his move to the Middle East was motivated by his desire to ‘be a global player’.

    Neymar, 31, has joined Al Hilal, who signed him for £80 million.

    Sky Sports reports that the Brazilian will be earning £129.4 million per year.

    He signed a two-year deal with the Pro League side.

    Neymar has been widely accused of leaving Europe because of the eye-watering cash he has been offered in Saudi.

    But speaking to the press for the first time after he completed his move, Neymar said, “I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places.

    “I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment.”

  • Bayern Munich accept Saudi offer for Sadio Mane

    Bayern Munich accept Saudi offer for Sadio Mane

    Bayern Munich have accepted an offer for their veteran winger Sadio Mane this week.

    The Bavarians are eager to move on from the Senegalese attacker, who arrived last summer from Liverpool.

    Per James Benge, Mane will be signing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

    The winger will be linking up with former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The deal will net Bayern £34 million, which is slightly more than it cost them to secure Mane a year ago.

    Despite arriving to replace Robert Lewandowski last season, Mane struggled to find his best form.

  • Bayern aware Sadio Mane is in talks with Al-Nassr

    Bayern aware Sadio Mane is in talks with Al-Nassr

    Bayern Munich are aware that winger Sadio Mane is in talks with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for a possible transfer.

    “Bayern have been informed about it. But these are initial talks, so we will have to wait and see,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said on Wednesday on the sidelines of a visit to the Tokyo governor.

    Bayern are in Japan for a pre-season training camp.

    According to the Bild newspaper, Al-Nassr representatives are to meet with Mané’s management team later on Wednesday.

    The Saudi club, who have Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad, are reportedly offering Mané a big salary. The player has a contract with Bayern until 2025, but is not ruling out an early departure.

    Hainer said there was no concrete offer yet, but media reports speak of something around €30 million ($33.18 million).

    Mané moved to Munich last summer and had a difficult first season, which included a long-term injury over which he missed the World Cup.

    He was also involved in a dressing room altercation with fellow forward Leroy Sane.

  • I’m shocked Messi didn’t join Saudi club – Ighalo

    I’m shocked Messi didn’t join Saudi club – Ighalo

    Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo has said he was shocked Lionel Messi did not join Saudi Arabi club, Al-Hilal.

    He revealed that Messi’s deal was part of the reasons his former club, Al-Hilal didn’t extend his contract.

    He also said Messi would have gotten twice of Al Nassr striker, Christiano Rolando’s salary if he had joined the Saudi club.

    Recalled the World Cup winner made a shock move to Major League Soccer side, Inter Miami last month after leaving PSG.

    Speaking in a recent interview with popular football journalist, Oma Akatugba: “I’m shocked Messi didn’t go to Saudi Arabia because it was part of the reasons my contract was not being extended [with Al-Hilal]. I thought it was a done deal.

    “The money they were offering him in Saudi [Arabia] was crazy. He was going to earn twice what Ronaldo was earning. I was shocked he didn’t go there. He chose Miami,” he said.

  • Saudi club make Bernardo Silva massive £650,000-a-week contract offer

    Saudi club make Bernardo Silva massive £650,000-a-week contract offer

    Manchester City are struggling to keep hold of Bernardo Silva this summer.

    The Portuguese is set to be offered a new deal by City, with his current contract worth £150,000-a-week.

    However, the Daily Star says City cannot compete with Saudi interest, where Al-Hilal are in talks with the midfielder about a massive £650,000-a-week contract.

    Bernardo almost quit City last summer and remained unsettled through the Treble-winning season.

    Barcelona are thought to be his favoured destination, but like City, the Catalans cannot compete with Al-Hilal’s spending power.

  • Saudi spending threat to European clubs – Zanetti

    Saudi spending threat to European clubs – Zanetti

    Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti admits they cannot compete with Saudi Pro League spending.

    Inter face losing Marcelo Brozovic this summer, who is a target for SPL teams.

    Zanetti said: “Saudi Arabia? With the arrival of Ronaldo, a domino effect has occurred. They have started investing a lot, aiming not only in Italy, but also in the Premier League and in Spanish football.

    “They want to bring players into their league who are ready to favor the growth of the movement.

    “I don’t know if it will be able to represent an antagonist of European football, but certainly at an economic level there is a lot of difference and at the moment it is very difficult to compete with this reality.”

  • N’Golo Kante to sign Al Ittihad deal

    N’Golo Kante to sign Al Ittihad deal

    Departing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has passed the first-half of his Al Ittihad medical.

    Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is reporting all parties will sign contracts today.

    Kante’s salary will be about €100m, the first part of the medical tests have already been completed.

    The 32-year-old midfielder will join Al Ittihad on a free transfer. His Blues deal expires at the end of the month.

    Kante’s initial deal with the Saudis will run to 2025 and an announcement could be made this week.

  • Benzema fever hits Jeddah ahead of Al-Ittihad presentation

    Benzema fever hits Jeddah ahead of Al-Ittihad presentation

    Saudi champions Al-Ittihad sold more than 56,000 tickets for Karim Benzema’s presentation at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in only a few hours after sales were announced on Wednesday.

    The France striker and Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-season contract with the Saudi Pro League club on Tuesday for a total of 165 million dollars, according to local media.

    Tickets for Thursday’s presentation of the former Real Madrid captain later at the 62,000-seat arena, known locally as ‘The Shining Jewel,’ started from just nine riyals (2.40 dollars).

    A large number of supporters wearing the club’s yellow and black colours greeted Benzema upon his arrival in the city on Wednesday night and he is expected to hold a press conference on Thursday before being presented to the fans.

    Benzema, 35, was Al-Ittihad’s first signing since winning the league title for the first time since 2009 with compatriot N’Golo Kante expected to join him from Chelsea soon.

    Cristiano Ronaldo blazed the trail in the Saudi Pro League by signing a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in December.

    Saudi clubs are targeting other big names in the coming months with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Angel Di Maria, Jordi Alba and Sergio Ramos being linked with moves to the desert kingdom in local media.

    A source close to Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, last month told Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Al-Hilal but the 35-year-old World Cup winner decided to join Inter Miami in the United States instead. 

  • Just In: First batch of Nasarawa intending Pilgrims involved in auto crash

    Just In: First batch of Nasarawa intending Pilgrims involved in auto crash

    Intending pilgrims of Nasarawa state in North central Nigeria were involved in a road traffic accident while on transit to Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport Abuja enroute to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise.

    Sources from the state pilgrims board said the accident occured today (Wednesday) at “Kara” (Animals market) in Keffi local government area of the state saying they were moving to Abuja ahead of their departure scheduled for Thursday 25th May, 2023.

    However, sources privy to this development said no life was lost during the accident and the injured persons are receiving medical attention at a Health facility in the state.

  • Messi’s father in Saudi to discuss Al-Hilal move

    Messi’s father in Saudi to discuss Al-Hilal move

    Lionel Messi’s father Jorge is seemingly in Saudi Arabia to hold talks with Al-Hilal.

    According to Tribalfootball Messi already has an ambassadorial deal with the Saudis as part of their attempts to win the 2030 World Cup hosting bid.

    The Argentine World Cup winner plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and French reports had suggested that a renewal was possible.

    However, Mundo Deportivo is now reporting that Messi’s father Jorge is in Riyadh discussing terms with Al-Hilal.

    Any move would happen at the end of the season when Messi is a free agent.

    The Saudi side are prepared to pay him £245 million-a-year to get him into the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo.