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SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Saudi Al Hilal officials in Paris to grab Messi as Ighalo paves way for him

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Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo’s depature from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal could be a way of creating the vacancy which the legendary Lionel Messi has come to fill.

It was in similar circumstance that Cameroon’s captain, Vincent Aboubakar had to leave  Al Nassr so that the club could accommodate Cristiano Ronaldo.

 Senior officials from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal football club have flown to Paris to seal a mega-deal with departing superstar Lionel Messi, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Sunday.

The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, the sources said.

According to earlier reports, the Argentina footballer will earn $1 billion (S$1.45 billion) for a two-year contract.

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Messi’s departure from Qatar-owned Paris-Saint Germain was confirmed on Saturday and he was jeered by a section of the club’s fans in his final appearance, a 3-2 defeat by Clermont.

“There is a Saudi delegation in Paris with one goal: to return with Messi official approval to the Saudi offer,” a source close to the club said.

Another official, who is close to the negotiations, said: “We are in the final stage of the deal.

“If everything goes well, Messi will sign his new contract and Al-Hilal will announce it before the weekend.”

Messi, 35, arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona but was unable to help PSG win an elusive Champions League title, as the club suffered last-16 defeats in both campaigns with the Argentine maestro.

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Along with oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia – where Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing since January – the seven-time Ballon d’Or-winner has also been linked with a return to Barcelona and with David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

He is not the only star being courted by Saudi Arabia, which is attempting to improve its austere image and attract tourists and investment, partly through the vehicle of sport.

On Saturday, Saudi state television channel Al-Ekhbariya said French striker Karim Benzema, who is leaving Real Madrid, had signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.

According to Al-Ekhbariya, the Saudi champions’ president and his deputy were in the Spanish capital to sign Benzema in a “record transfer with Real Madrid”.

Saudi-Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, has thrown hundreds of millions at sports deals including Ronaldo’s signing, Formula One and the divisive LIV Golf tour, drawing frequent claims it is “sportswashing” its human rights record.

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Last month, a source close to the negotiations in Saudi Arabia told AFP that Messi’s signing was a “done deal”, describing the contract as “huge”.

Messi, who lifted the World Cup in Qatar in December, was suspended by Qatari-owned PSG last month for an unauthorised mid-season trip to Saudi, where he is a tourism ambassador.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Peseiro set to return to Saudi Arabia for petro-dollar job

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Know The Nigerian Coach Jose Peseiro -

Former Super Eagles’ coach, Jose Peseiro is on the line to coach Saudi Arabia Pro League first tier team, Al Riyadh.

Information from the oil rich country indicate that Peseiro who had previously coached the Saudi Arabia national team is one of the two being considered to replace Odair Hellmann at the Saudi club which placed 14th at the end of last season.

It is gathered that Peseiro has a competitor in Spanish cooach, Javier Pereira who is also lineup for the job.  

Peseiro had previously managed Al Hilal in 2006 and later coached the Saudi national team during their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

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SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Ronaldo breaks Saudi League’s single-season scoring record

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Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 27, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Stringer

Al Nasr’s Cristiano Ronaldo capped his first full Saudi Pro League season in style as he broke the record for the most goals scored in one campaign on Monday.

The Portuguese 39-year-old scored a brace in his side’s 4-2 win over Al Ittihad on the final matchday to bring his league tally this season to 35 goals.

The previous record was held by former Al Nasr forward and Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 34 goals in 2018-19.

Ronaldo, who played for Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, joined Al Nasr in January 2023.

-Reuters

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SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Ighalo’s former club, Al-Hilal secure Saudi League title

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Saudi Pro League - Al Hilal v Al Hazem - Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 11, 2024 Al Hilal fans display banners in the stands as the celebrate after winning the Saudi Pro League REUTERS/Stringer

Undefeated Al-Hilal won a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over Al-Hazem to reclaim the trophy from Al-Ittihad who won it last season.

Jorge Jesus’ side hold a 12-point advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in second with three matches remaining.

Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Al-Hilal the lead from the penalty spot after 15 minutes but Faiz Selemani netted the equaliser for Al-Hazem in the 34th minute.

However, Jesus’s side took the lead again with an own goal from Ahmed Al-Juwaid in the 39th minute.

Mitrovic scored again in first-half stoppage time and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored three minutes later to make it 4-1.

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Al-Hilal are chasing the treble having clinched the Saudi Super Cup title in April, and having reached the Saudi King’s Cup final where they will play Al-Nassr.

-Reuters

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