By Muheeb Mashood
The defending champions of Saudi Arabia Pro League, Al-Ittihad, has been pushing hard on signing Egyptian international Mohammed Salah, with the latest attempt coming on Monday, 4th September.
The league has gained global attention after the five-time Ballon D’ Or winner, Christiano Ronaldo, switched to Al-Ahli. Then, super stars, including Sadio Mane (Al-Ahli), Kareem Benzema (An-Nassr), and Neymar Junior (Al-Hilal), among others have also made there way to the league.
Why does Al-Ittihad insist on Signing Salah
Mohammed Salah became one of the top players in the world after Liverpool’s move from As Roma in 2017. Between 2017 and 2023, Salah has scored 138 goals in 221 appearances for the team, becoming the fifth most highest scorer for the club.
Salah has achieved numerous individual accolades, including two PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards, three Premier League Golden Boots, the Premier League Player of the Season; the Premier League Playmaker of the Season, and finished third for the Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2018 and 2021.
The Egyptian international has also
won the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for his winning strike in the first Merseyside derby of the 2017–18 season. In 2023, Salah became Liverpool’s Premier League top goalscorer, surpassing Robbie Fowler.
The superstar is recognised as the most influential Arabian footballer with his love boiling on the heart of his fans. His brand is unmatched in the Eastern Middle market. The majority of the voters spoiled their votes in 2018 Egyptian Presidential, imprinting Salah’s name on the ballot papers, a figure more than the two contested candidates gained, put together.
According to Mohamed Farag Amer, head of Egypt’s parliamentary youth and sports committee, he equated the star to Tutankhmun, Egyptian Pyramids. He said: “Mohamed Salah is really important because he is a symbol. Like Tutankhamun, like the pyramids.”
Mo Salah love is not limited to his native citizens with his zeal already engulfed Al-Ittihad’s fans after a shocking display in August, wearing a mask of the Egyptian superstar during a match against Al-Riyadh
The Saudis also want the Egyptian move because of his religious commitment, displayed on numerous occasions. The forward’s constant prostration, quietly thanking his creator as a celebration of his goals, is evidential to this.
Also, the Liverpool star named his daughter after the Saudi’s holy city (Makka) in 2018 and in turn rewarded with a plot of land by the Saudi Arabian government as “a wonderful representative of Islam in Britain.”
£200 Million Deals Shakes Klopp’s Liverpool
Al-Ittihad opened a staggering offer of approximately £215 million to sign the poacher from the Reds on Monday after the prior £189 million deal was turned down earlier in August. This charming and world record-breaking offer could possibly leave Liverpool with no other choice but to accept the deal as the sum is overwhelming to be rejected for an ageing 31-years- old player.
While speaking with the Sky Sport, Paul Merson said: “He’s one of the best players in the world. It’s a hard one. If you sell him for £150m what can you bring in? They’re not going to be better than Salah. I would say £200m would be too much to turn down. I don’t see how you can turn that down. ”
Also, it will be difficult for the clinical finisher to resist the contract because the move foreseen him as the highest paying footballer in the world with £2.45 wages every week with other befitting benefits.
However, this will force Jurgen Klopp to depart with his playmaker, having a negative turnaround on the team as they’re hampered from signing a replacement until January when another transfer window will be opened.
“You’ve got to keep Klopp happy. He’s the manager of the club. He’ll want Salah to stay, and if he does go, that will be through upstairs [agreeing to the deal], and he’ll get disheartened. If he has £200m, where’s he going to spend it with the window shutting?”Merson added.
Prophecy, Warning, and Assurance
The German coach Jurgen Klopp has expressed his fright about the discrepancy of the Saudi transfer principle and its negative impact on European football. He had earlier called on UEFA and FIFA to take a proactive measure to address the issue.
“The influence of Saudi Arabia is massive at the moment. Pretty much the worst thing I think is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open three weeks longer. If I am right, I heard something like that, then at least in Europe that’s not helpful.”
“UEFA or FIFA must find solutions for that. But in the end, at this moment, I don’t know exactly what will happen. It’s already influential for us, but we will have to learn to deal with it… Time will show, “he added.
However, the Liverpool manager has assured of Salah’s future with the club after a thrilling performance in their last Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday. He said: “I don’t have doubts about his future…he wants to play here.”
Klopp told Sky Sports after the Villa victory: “He played a top game. Mo had to work super hard, and he did.
“I’ve never had, and I don’t have now, doubts about his future, his commitment to this club. Believe me, you can’t imagine how much fuss the whole world makes and how calm we are with it. He’s our player. He wants to play here, and that’s it.”
The coach stated further: “The position remains the same, absolutely. There is no doubt about that. We can not [sell Salah]. That’s how it is. There’s nothing else to say.”