Izuchukwu Okosi
Amid interests in Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey from Super rich Saudi Arabia clubs, reports on Friday have indicated that an unnamed Saudi pro League side has made an audacious move to sign the Ghanaian on a two-year deal.
The former Atletico Madrid star has been offered $200 million in wages by the said club and the breakdown shows that he will earn an annual, tax-free salary of $100 million if he signs the two-year deal.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Saudi clubs keen on Partey are Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Khaleej but the identity of the club that made the offer has been shrouded in secrecy.
The Saudi Arabian government has been financing football clubs in their investments as the country look to bid for the 2030 or 2034 World Cup.
Amnstey International has called the move to use sports in general to woo investors, enhance tourism and create a feel-good atmosphere in the country as ‘Sports washing’ due to Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian records.
The 2023/2024 Saudi pro League will kick off on August 11, the same day the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga will kick off.
Most elite players across the European top five leagues who are in their 30s or late 20s have been acquired by clubs in Saudi Arabia albeit the signing of 24 year-old Rubén Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £47m could change the narrative and younger talents poached by the ‘moneybags’.
Some sports consultants have also considered Motosport, boxing and tennis as sports that could ‘benefit’ from the financial windfall from the government.
Partey who is currently holidaying in his home country, Ghana, is reportedly not keen on moving to Saudi Arabia but fancies the possibility of playing for Juventus.
The ‘Old Lady’ were interested in him two seasons ago but could not come up with the transfer fee by his former side.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
