According to BBC, Fulham manager Marco Silva rejected offer from Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad to move to Saudi. This had become a common scenario in every transfer window now. We see great players who are in their last years of playing are moving to Saudi Pro League for huge amounts of money. This is becoming a very common step that most of the footballers are taking. Many young footballers with great potential are going to Saudi at a younger age and play their prime years there. Recently one of the Saudi League’s best team Al Hilal gave big offers to the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. One of this offer is estimated to be €500 million of annual wages for the player. This type of sum is enough to bring any player in the world to your club.
This scenario of players going to Saudi League become popular after the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr. When everyone thought Ronaldo will continue in Europe no one expected this move to happen. After all the European clubs could not sign Ronaldo due to the financial burden his wages will bring. Ronaldo is known for his great longetivity and consistency but every club was still skeptical to bring him. At this point Saudi League saw the oppurtunity to bring the Portuguese to their club by offering huge amount of wages. Ronaldo also agreed to the move to continue playing and remain active till the international matches for Portugal. Other than Cristiano Ronaldo some of the big names playing in the Saudi League are Neymar, Ruben Neves, Mitrovic, Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema. Now Saudi League has become a common retirement home for world class players.
Al Ittihad try bringing Fulham manager Marco Silva
Another advantage is for Saudi players who can play with world class players. The transfers of different world class players has allowed Saudi players to improve their game. This phenomenon is making them consistent challengers for the AFC Champions league. Al Hilal won the AFC Championship in 2019 and 2021. They also play the finals of the 2022 year. Now judging the performance of players who went to Saudi League Cristiano Ronaldo and Mitrovic are still performing. They were among the top scorers of the league and gave wonderful indiviual performances on every match week. Saudi Arabia’s improvement was clearly visible in their opening game of world cup 2022 against Argentina. Although Argentina go on to become the champions they only lost to Saudi Arabia in the whole tournament. Saudi Arabia almost ended Lionel Messi’s dream run of the tournament.
Now in the recent time Fulham manager Marco Silva rejected the offer from Saudi club Al Ittihad. Fulham are very confident in keeping Silva and now the Saudi club will look for new options. Former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli is one of the new targets emerged for the Saudi club. Marco Silva is doing a great job with Fulham after he managed to avoid relegation in his tenure with the club. He also managed to secure promotion with the club to Premier League from Championship.
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