Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah may be edging toward the Anfield exit, but not everyone in Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet.
In fact, Al-Kholood chairman Ben Harburg says the Saudi Pro League
should think twice — and instead chase younger, next-gen talent like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
Salah’s future is suddenly messy. The Egyptian publicly accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after Arne Slot benched him, and the fallout escalated quickly: he wasn’t even included in the squad that travelled to Milan for this week’s Champions League match. Naturally, rumours of a renewed Saudi push reignited.
Saudi clubs have chased Salah before — Liverpool famously rejected a £150 million offer in 2023 — and Salah later admitted to “serious” negotiations before choosing to stay on Merseyside. But Harburg believes going back for him now could backfire.
Salah Gets Paid A ‘Boatload’ Yet Underperforms: Harburg
Speaking at the World Football Summit in Riyadh, Harburg didn’t mince words about the mood inside the league.
“There’s a narrative around him that they asked him to come before and he rejected us,” he said. “These are not people who like to be spurned and are going to come back around the second time.”
And beyond pride, there’s performance. Salah, now 33, has managed just five goals and three assists this season — a sharp dip from last year’s Premier League Golden Boot winner. Liverpool, meanwhile, are stuck in 10th.
“He got paid a boatload… and has underperformed massively since then,” Harburg added.
‘I’d Take Vinicius’
Talent? Sure. Star power? Undeniable. But Harburg insists Salah isn’t the profile Saudi football needs next.
“I’m sure some people like his star power… but my sentiment is that he is not a fit for our league. If it were between him and Vinicius, I’d take Vinicius.”
Harburg believes the Brazilian would “thrive” in Saudi Arabia — and says the league should prioritise players in the 25-year-old, next-wave bracket rather than ageing icons seeking a final stop.
(with Reuters inputs)
