Mohamed Salah signs for the Saudi club, confusing his Brazilian teammateA Brazilian on the team thought he was getting the real thing.
An Al-Adalah player has revealed he went through a whirlwind of emotions after learning his club had signed Mohamed Salah, only to discover he was the Liverpool winger’s namesake and not the man himself.
A large number of football talent reaching their senior years have flocked to the Saudi Pro League in 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move to Al-Nassr shortly after the end of the World Cup, while Madrid’s Karim Benzema Madrid, Chelsea trio N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly and Wolves’ Ruben Neves have all moved to the Middle East this summer.
Therefore, had Salah not signed a three-year contract extension at Anfield last summer, it cannot be ruled out that his name is currently heavily linked to a multi-million pound move to Saudi Arabia.
However, Edson, a Brazilian defensive midfielder who plays for Al-Adalah, believed that his club had picked the Egyptian king himself when he read about his employers’ recent signing. Speaking to ESPN in his home country, he explained how he initially celebrated the news.
He said: “As for Salah, I thought it would be Liverpool’s. Turns out no, I was hoping so. Arab football is growing a lot every year and if Salah had gone there, nothing would have come out.”
The player in question was actually a Saudi left-back.
The growing financial power of the Pro League is criticized in England. Gary Neville has called for a transfer embargo and former Reds striker Peter Crouch was particularly puzzled by Neves’ transfer. In his interview, Edson also spoke about the league’s growing financial strength, but with a positive outlook.
“People invest a lot in Arab football, they want to make the league stronger every year. I’m happy to be part of this magical moment that football is living there.
You have always invested. The presidents, the League, the Saudi Federation. But the investment power has grown every year, and now even more. This is good for the country, which loves football very much.
“It’s a country where the league still has a lot to grow. Automatically, if the best players go there, everyone will want to go. If one goes, the other will too.” I am happy to represent the club at this very important moment.
“They have a plan for 2030 which wants to transform Saudi Arabia like Dubai. In order to attract tourists, they are investing heavily in the structure of cities. I’m sure the Saudi league will be among the top six, seven this year in the I have no doubt about it because it increases a lot every year.
