Minister Insists Salah Would Be a Perfect Fit for Saudi League as Emphasis Shifts to Youth Development

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is seen as an ideal candidate for the Saudi Pro League, yet the current trend leans towards younger players, according to sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal.

At 32 years old, Salah was rumoured to be making a switch to Saudi Arabia before opting for a contract extension with Premier League leaders Liverpool until 2027 earlier this month.

“He’s a superstar and an iconic Arab Muslim. He embodies the spirit of the Saudi League,” Al-Faisal remarked during the Saudi Formula One Grand Prix, referring to the Egyptian striker.

“From the very beginning, there were links between him and Saudi, despite no actual talks taking place. It’s beneficial to have that kind of attention, you know.”

“These days, any player considering a contract renewal seems to have Saudi thrown into the mix. However, I can assure you that around 90% of those claims aren’t true.”

He noted that clubs have shifted their focus to younger talents after attracting high-profile stars like Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al-Nassr), Karim Benzema (37, Al-Ittihad), and Salah’s former teammate Sadio Mane (33, also with Al-Nassr).

“You can see that Saudi players are becoming more committed and disciplined in their training, recognising that they’ll be competing against top players every weekend and must be prepared,” Al-Faisal explained.

“Cultivating that mentality takes time,” he continued, highlighting Ronaldo’s example of being the first to arrive for training and the last to leave.

“The determination and image this creates instantly influences the younger generation, which is precisely what we aim to achieve.”

Al-Faisal revealed that the average player age in the Saudi league has decreased from 29 to 26 this year, with aspirations to further reduce it to 24.

He also expressed a desire for a reciprocal relationship in player transfers.

“We currently have over 12 players competing in Europe, many for the first time. Our aim is to create a relationship where players can move in both directions—into Saudi and out again, for both local and international players,” Al-Faisal stated.

As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the men’s World Cup in 2034, it has not yet secured qualification for next year’s tournament.

The nation faces allegations of “sportswashing” its human rights record through significant investments in sport. However, Saudi Arabia refutes any claims of human rights violations.