Saudi Arabia Al Hilal offer Mbappé a world-record $332 million
Posted : 24 July 2023
Al Hilal, a Saudi team, made a record-breaking bid of €300 million ($332 million) for Kylian Mbappé after missing out on Lionel Messi. The bid aims to bring the French striker to the oil-rich kingdom, where he would join Cristiano Ronaldo.
Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the offer and granted Al Hilal permission to negotiate directly with Mbappé. However, sources indicate that Mbappé is not interested in the offer.
The player is currently in a contract standoff with PSG and has decided not to extend his deal for an additional 12 months.
Instead, he plans to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, with widespread expectations that he will join Real Madrid.
If Mbappé goes to Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer, he could potentially receive a €100 million signing-on fee. Additionally, he would get an €80 million bonus this September if he decides to stay with PSG.
PSG has excluded Mbappé from their preseason tour in Japan as they are determined to secure an offer for him or convince him to sign a new contract.
Al Hilal's bid would make Mbappé the most expensive player in history, surpassing the €262 million PSG paid for Neymar from Barcelona in 2017. This move represents Saudi Arabia's most ambitious attempt to attract top players to their league.
Other notable players, such as Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Roberto Firmino, have already joined Saudi Arabia's lucrative league, following Ronaldo's deal with Al Nassr in December. While Messi chose Inter Miami CF in MLS after leaving PSG, many other players are considering the move, including Premier League stars like Riyad Mahrez and Jordan Henderson.
Saudi Arabia has been actively investing in international sports to provide opportunities for its youth and improve its image. However, critics argue that these efforts are merely "sportswashing" aimed at diverting attention from the kingdom's human rights issues and controversial actions, such as the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
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