After failing to land Lionel Messi, Al Hilal makes record bid for Kylian Mbappe
After missing out on Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is making a record-breaking push for another star soccer player.
The club made a €300 million bid — or $332 million — to French club Paris Saint-Germain for striker Kylian Mbappé. If accepted, that would break the world record of $262 million that PSG paid Barcelona in 2017 for the right to negotiate with Brazilian icon Neymar. PSG confirmed the offer and has allowed Al Hilal to negotiate directly with Mbappé.
ESPN reported, citing anonymous sources, that Mbappé is not interested in the overture from the Saudi club. According to CBS Sports, Al Hilal is prepared to offer Mbappé a one-year salary of €700 million, or $776 million.
Mbappé is in a contract dispute with PSG after he declined to take up the option of a 12-month extension on his deal. He has been widely linked to a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. PSG cut Mbappe from its preseason tour of Japan on Saturday, with the French club determined to sell him unless he can be convinced to sign a new contract.
Mbappé, 24, is widely considered to be one of the brightest young stars in global soccer because of his speed, ball control and finishing ability. Mbappé was a key figure in France's 2018 World Cup victory, scoring a goal in the final over Croatia, but also starred in the most recent World Cup, winning the Golden Boot.
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Did Al Hilal express interest in Lionel Messi?
Yes. The Saudi team, which is the rival team of Cristiano Ronaldo's current squad, Al-Nassr, had been trying to pry Messi away from Paris Saint-Germain. In May, Messi took an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, which was part of a promotional tour with the country's office of tourism. PSG suspended and fined Messi two weeks for the matter. Messi, instead, opted to sign July 15 with Inter Miami of the MLS, where he has already made a splash, scoring a free kick winner in the 94th minute of his debut with the club.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo sign with a Saudi Arabian team?
In December, Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr on a contract that runs through June 2025 and reportedly pays him up to $200 million annually. Ronaldo criticized Messi's move to the MLS recently after Al-Nassr suffered a 5-0 defeat in a friendly against Celta Vigo. When asked after the match if he would look to join Messi in the MLS, Ronaldo told reporters in Portuguese: "No because in Arabia, the competition much better than in the United States."
What other players have joined Saudi teams?
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), former Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad), former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli), former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) and former Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic (Al-Nassr) are among the players who have moved or will soon move to the Saudi league.
Contributing: Associated Press