Premier League chief executive Richard Masters is “not too concerned” for now about Saudi Arabia’s ascendancy in football as he reasoned it takes time to become a dominant force.
Al Hilal submitted a world-record €300 million offer for Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, who has 12 months left on his current deal and has been given permission to speak to the Saudi club.
BREAKING: PSG have accepted Al Hilal's £259m offer for Kylian Mbappe 🇸🇦✅ pic.twitter.com/i78jAwS1QP
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 24, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have already joined the country’s Pro League.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have agreed on a deal with Al-Ettifaq – managed by Steven Gerrard – to sell their captain Jordan Henderson.
“Something new is obviously happening,” Masters told BBC Sport. “The Saudi Pro League have stated they want to be a top 10 league by 2030.
“They are investing in players and managers to try to raise the profile of the league and clubs.
“It has taken us 30 years to get to the position that we have in terms of profile, competitiveness and the revenue streams that we have.
“I wouldn’t be too concerned at the moment but, obviously, Saudi Arabian clubs have as much right to purchase players as any other league does.
“In the end, the Premier League is a £6billion-a-year operation in terms of revenue and that money is spent reinvested into the pitch. All good competitions have to have revenue streams to back them up.”
Al Hilal you can take me. I look like Kylian Mbappe 😂😂👀 pic.twitter.com/VH0syez3VX
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 24, 2023
The astonishing bid for French football's golden boy has taken the sporting world by storm, with various stars from across the globe acknowledging the amount of money reportedly offered.
NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo took to social media with a hilarious 'Come and get me please' to the Saudi-based club.
Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1 year deal! ✌🏾🤷🏾♂️😁 pic.twitter.com/IX0VSMZYNb
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 25, 2023
While his fellow NBA superstar Lebron James was every bit as eager to join in on the games.
"Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1 year deal!," he posted on his Twitter.
Written by PA Sport Staff and Shaun Connolly, Beat.
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