2023-07-09 09:25:00
Federico Strumolo 09 July 2023
A few years ago China, today Saudi Arabia. Cyclically it seems that some rich country unrelated to the football elite chooses to buy football. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Marcelo Brozovic, are just some of the big names who have decided to leave Europe to move to the Middle East, convinced by a ton of millions. Fortunately, however, there is also someone who decides to stay in the old continent, among those who are satisfied with European compensation and those who fear leaving the football that counts. Next summer, after all, the European Championships will be played and it could prove to be a counterproductive choice to emigrate to an uncompetitive championship like the Saudi one. It seems to have made this reasoning, by refusing the 35 million euros in two years put on the plate by Al-Shabab, the national center forward Ciro Immobile, no longer an untouchable for coach Roberto Mancini and forced into a top-level season for snatch the summons for the German demonstration. A strong choice, exactly like that of his Lazio teammate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who would have said no to 15 million a season from the Arabs, because he wanted to stay in Italy, with Inter and Juventus at the window.
LUKAKU QUESTION
Pennies compared to the 50 million a year offered by Al-Hilal and rejected by Romelu Lukaku, leaving Chelsea but eager to return to Inter, where, however, he would earn less than a fifth. From England they insist that the Blues will not settle for less than 45 million to let the Belgian leave and the Arabs feel strong, hopeful that sooner or later Lukaku will be able to give in to courtship: not because he is convinced by the project, if anything by a salary crazy. But, until proven otherwise, his idea remains to return to Italy and play many more derbies against Olivier Giroud, another player approached by Arab clubs, but strong enough not to be bought by the super offers from the Saudi Football League, because he wants to give away his last energies to great football with the Milan shirt. Like them, many big international names: from Real Madrid ace Luka Modric to Barcelona stars Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan.
And to think that the huge expenses of the Saudis are not limited to the players, but also concern the coaches. The legend of British football Steven Gerrard is the new coach of Al-Ettifaq (a club that is allegedly trying to convince Atletico Madrid striker – and Milan’s market target – Alvaro Morata), but Saudi Arabia in recent weeks José Mourinho and Gennaro Gattuso also tried: the first prefers to stay in Rome, the second is looking for a project in Europe. To remind the sheikhs that with money you can buy many things, but not everything and not all. And, mind you, there’s nothing wrong with looking for the best contract, but in a football that’s anything but poor, it’s nice to point out those who prefer to continue chasing the dreams he’s had since he was a child. An example given by the South Korean star of Tottenham Heung-min Son, who in refusing Saudi said: «I still have a lot to do in the Premier League. Money doesn’t interest me now, what matters is the pride of playing football and doing it in my favorite league». Fortunately, there are still those who think so.
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