The only reason anyone plays football in Saudi Arabia is money, and when you want one of football’s biggest stars who is not approaching retirement age, you have to pay.
Al-Ahli has been chosen by the royal family to be the club that delivers a bid that will be a world record by a large margin if it goes through.
The Real Madrid megastar has been heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in recent months. Recently, Pro League boss Omar Mugharbel claimed that a transfer of Vinicius to Saudi Arabia is “only a matter of time” and it appears that this confidence is well-founded.
According to Ben Jacobs, this saga will be one to watch in the upcoming summer window.
Vinicius costs “only” 350 million euros?
The journalist, who is usually extremely reliable on Saudi Pro League transfers, babbles away about the information he has received regarding the Saudi interest in the Brazilian winger.
Jacobs reports that Saudi dealmakers have “chosen” Al-Ahli as the club to sign the 24-year-old, although Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr have also expressed interest in signing him.
Moreover, despite Saudi Arabia’s seemingly unlimited funds, not even a PIF-owned Pro League club like Al-Ahli would be prepared to pay its €1 billion release clause at Real Madrid. Instead, Jacobs reports that they will test Los Blancos’ determination with a record bid of €350 million.
“Al-Ahli is made in mind and the reason for that is because you have Al-Ittihad [with Karim] Benzema, Al-Nassr [with Cristiano] Ronaldo, and at the moment anyway, Al-Hilal [with] Neymar if Neymar leaves, they are looking for Mo Salah,” Jacobs said.
“And even though Al-Ahli has some incredible players, including Ivan Toney, Bobby Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, the feeling is that there is room for that extra elite star. So talks have already taken place on the player side with Al-Ahli in mind, and Saudi could be looking to try something quite bold in the summer.
“Obviously, it’s going to be very difficult to make it in 2025, but here’s what I’m being told – a bit like a world record offer for Kylian Mbappe when he was still at PSG, which was turned down.
“Saudi is willing to pay not the €1 billion release clause, but €350 million. That is the number they are thinking of to try to make Real Madrid “wait a bit. Is it just too good to refuse?”
“There is no yes from the player yet, but watch this space. Al-Ahli, Vini Jr, summer 2025, 350 million euros.”
The world record is still Neymar’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona on August 3, 2017 for 222 million euros.
