Inside the David Beckham-like offer to Mohamed Salah as Saudis want Liverpool ace to replace Ronaldo as face of league
AL-ITTIHAD have made Mohamed Salah a David Beckham-like offer to tempt him to Saudi Arabia, SunSport can reveal.
The mega-rich side are desperate to sign the Liverpool striker and want him to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the face of the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Ittihad, who are managed by former Spurs and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, have offered Liverpool £150million for the superstar.
A five-year contract is on the table, with a near-£100million basic salary, a private jet or unlimited plane tickets for his family and an offer to become an ambassador for tourism and investments in Saudi Arabia – which will further boost the player’s pay.
In total the deal would eclipse the £173m salary of Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
There is also the possibility to have shares of a team in the future, as the Saudi government and League want teams to be owned by private owners mid term.
It’s a similar proposal to what lured David Beckham to MLS in 2007.
When the England legend left Real Madrid for LA Galaxy, part of the deal enabled him to set up his own MLS team in the future.
He has since taken up that opportunity, creating Inter Miami who in their short existence have made global headlines by signing Lionel Messi over the summer.
SunSport can reveal that Al-Ittihad are desperate to land Salah and will push until the end of the transfer window – which for the Saudi Pro League runs until 20 September.
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The Egyptian striker is seen as a more valuable asset to the country than any of the signings so far because of his massive influence and being a superstar in the Middle East Arabic countries and Gulf peninsula.
Having him as an ambassador would be a fantastic “diplomatic” addition in Saudi Arabia’s goal to be the biggest powerhouse in the region.
He is also viewed as the long term face of the league.
Benzema, 35, who made the move over the summer on a £3.3m-a-week deal, and Ronaldo, 38, are expected to hang up their boots within two years whereas Salah, at 31, can have a longer-term impact.
It’s understood Liverpool do not want to sell Salah.
The Egypt international only signed a new three-year contract at Anfield last summer, which made him the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history on around £400,000 per week.
It is thought the only way Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will let him leave is if the Reds’ 187-goal forward forces it.
The pair’s relationship appeared strained in the opening-day 1-1 draw at Chelsea when Salah raged at being substituted in the 77th minute.
He angrily ripped away wrist tape, shook his head then ignored Klopp as he stormed into the dugout to take a seat.
But it is Klopp who will be left furious by more Saudi interest in one of his stars.
He sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad for £40m and skipper Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq for an initial £12m after both told him they wanted out.
England midfield ace Henderson, 33, now nets £700,000 a week under the management of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Klopp has demanded that Fifa step in to change the transfer window dates, with Saudi Arabia’s finishing almost three weeks after the England’s September 1 deadline used by the major European leagues.
He feels it leaves clubs vulnerable to losing stars to Saudi and being left powerless to replace them — particularly if players have release clauses.
