Saudi Arabia continues to rock the European market with its millions. Al Nassr, the team where Cristiano Ronaldo plays, has reached an agreement this Sunday for the signing of the Spanish central defender Aymeric Laporte, who is leaving Manchester City after a season finale in which he was no longer an important piece for Pep Guardiola.
The option gained strength just a few days ago and burst after the three consecutive substitutions suffered by the Spaniard in the Community Shield against Arsenal, the European Super Cup against Seville and this weekend’s duel against Newcastle.
Aymeric Laporte celebrating a goal in the preseason in Japan. | Photo: REUTERS
Laporte barely played a few minutes in the first Premier League match against Burnley, insufficient eleven minutes to convince him to stay to cover a place that makes him uncomfortable.
Product of Guardiola’s ‘delete’, the central defender listened to Al Nassr’s offer and was convinced by the 20 million salary per season that he will receive until June 2026.
Now all that remains is for Laporte to pack his bags and travel to Riyadh for the respective medical examinations and the official presentation, which will take place at the same time as Otávio, a Portuguese midfielder who will arrive from Porto.
Manchester City was already prepared for the departure of Laporte and had invested a good amount in the signing of the Croatian Josko Gvardiol, a revelation figure of the World Cup in Qatar 2022 and one of the central defenders with the most projection in European football.
Aymeric Laporte leaves Manchester City. | Photo: REUTERS
The list of stars in Arabia grows
Since the beginning of the summer with the irruption of Saudi Arabia in the transfer market, the exorbitant salaries offered by the clubs of the oil monarchy have convinced many players and coaches to join the Saudi Pro League, such as Neymar, who last week was presented by the Al Hilal club.
Saudi Arabia has attracted several soccer stars to its championship since Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing with Al Nassr last January.
Cristiano Ronaldo, player of Al Nassr. | Photo: AFP or licensors
The first star to follow in the footsteps of the five-time Portuguese Ballon d’Or winner was none other than his partner at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema. Free of any contract, the 2022 Ballon d’Or signed with the letter of freedom for Al Ittihad at the beginning of June, signing a three-year contract.
A few days after the 35-year-old French forward did so, it was his compatriot N’Golo Kanté who signed for the Jeddah team. At the end of his contract with Chelsea, the midfielder also committed himself for three years.
The 2018 world champion will form a prestigious double in midfield with Brazilian Fabinho, 29, from Liverpool.
With PSG’s exit doors open, Neymar signed for Al Hilal, where he could earn around $110 million a year on a two-year contract. The PSG coffers could receive close to 90 million euros for the transfer.
In this photo released by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal soccer club on August 15, 2023, Brazilian striker Neymar (left) signs a contract along with Hilal’s president Fahad bin Nafel in Paris. Brazilian forward Neymar has joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs announced today, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the latest big name attracted to the oil-rich Gulf state. | Photo: AFP
Crowned with a historic treble with Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez stamped his signature for the next four years with Al Ahli, in the case of the 32-year-old Algerian international in a transfer estimated at 35 million euros (out of 38 million dollars). . Roberto Firmino, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy, among others, will also play in that team.
Another soccer star who has arrived in the Saudi championship is Sadio Mané. The 31-year-old Senegalese international signed for Al Nassr for three years with an annual salary close to 40 million euros.
The Croatian Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), the Englishman Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq) and the Serbian Sergej Milinkovic-Savic complete the long list of stars who moved to Arabic after the money.
With information from AFP.
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2023-08-21 01:55:16
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