Man City on high alert as Al Ahli baits star with 16 goals and 12 assists in 2022–23 with a €100 million contract.
Do not be deceived; the Saudis are on their way, and Man City is not immune to their mega-millions either.
Players who may have been initially reluctant to consider moving to the Pro League now seem to have had a sea change in attitude over the past few weeks and are being convinced merely by the amount of money on offer.
With the probable exception of Lionel Messi, who reportedly declined a €1 billion contract (according to Football Transfers, a website run by L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi), a trickle of players is suddenly morphing into a stampede.
Karim Benzema has already been unveiled by Al Ittihad, and French colleague, N’Golo Kante is expected to follow soon.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been there with Al Nassr for some while already, and there genuinely appears to be the chance of a mass exodus unless Premier League clubs and others from the top five European leagues can match the incredible riches that appear to be on offer in Saudi Arabia.
They clearly won’t be the last, and on the eve of the Champions League final, ESPN broke the news that sources have told them that Al Ahli will give 32-year-old Riyad Mahrez a €100m contract to join them.
The wide man, who scored 16 goals and provided 12 assists in 2022/23 per WhoScored, will surely find that kind of money too tempting to turn down.
Not a guaranteed starter these days under Pep Guardiola either, it could be a move to suit all parties.
