The Saudi Arabia offensive on the European football market is in full motion. Big stars, old or new, are signing for some of the Saudi clubs literally every day. The transfers and the wages are out of this world, and even clubs like Manchester City and PSG, who basically have foreign states behind them, are helpless. For example, Riyad Mahrez had a 7 million euros wage at City, and Al-Hillal gave him 30 per year! With this kind of money, and considering the strength of the league itself, it’s silly to talk about a desire to play in a different environment, it’s about money. And some of the players are not afraid to say it.🎙️ Odion Ighalo on Cristiano Ronaldo:”I’m not one of those players who come here and say, ‘I play out of passion.’ My brother, it’s for the money. Ronaldo has won 100x more than me in my whole life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. He did it for the money.”✍️ OMA Sports pic.twitter.com/IZAFbPpZqQ— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 28, 2023 Nigerian international striker Odion Ighalo has spoken about playing in Saudi Arabia, as he recently was in Al Shabab and Al Hilal, but also in China, during the time when that county also overpaid players in order to strengthen the league. Former Manchester United striker (from Covid season) gave an interview for YouTube channel OmaSports, and was bluntly honest. First the Champions League, then the Saudi’s millions: Mahrez signs for Al-Ahli”I’m not one of those players who come and say, ‘I play out of passion.’ My brother, it’s for the money. At the end of the day, it’s money. Look at the people who go to Arabia. Great footballers. Does Ronaldo still play for passion? Ronaldo won 100 times more than me in my whole life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. He did it out of passion? It’s for the money. At the end of the day, we are playing for the money, replaces the one who returned to Manchester City in the 2020-21 season. Even if you have 10 billion trophies, you cannot use them to buy food at the supermarket. We play football for the money. If the money comes, why not go?” he says. Negotiating with the Saudis? You are fired!The Nigerian striker then explained that while the players are young, they play for passion and love for the game, but when they get older, money comes in. “When you’re young, yes, you play for passion. Back then, you didn’t care about money. But at my age, I’m in the final stretch of my career, I don’t know if that will be 1, 2 years or when God says what will stop I know it won’t be more than 3 years. I played for the passion all my life, now it’s for the money“, said Ighalo. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7398914##
