RIYADH: Saudi football clubs have not considered negotiating a move by Liverpool’s Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League, official Saudi sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday.
Media speculation concerning possible talks between Salah and clubs in the Kingdom surfaced earlier this week after the player spoke out against Liverpool Football Club’s management and coach Arne Slot.
However, Saudi sources dismissed claims of a possible move as “promotional news” placed in the media by Salah’s agent and entourage.
Roshn Saudi League clubs “have not taken any steps” in that direction, basically due to Salah’s current contract that extends until mid-2027, added the sources.
Involving Saudi clubs has become a common practice among many international players experiencing problems with their clubs, with the aim of increasing their market value or creating false interest, the sources added.
Clubs including Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli, along with Al-Qadisiyah and NEOM, have not held talks or even considered contacting Salah, Liverpool, or his agent, the sources said.
Asharq Al-Awsat published on Tuesday an official denial from an Al-Hilal source on the matter and described the reports as “baseless rumors.”
The newspaper also carried a similar denial from sources within Al-Qadisiyah, who confirmed that the club, owned by Aramco, has no intention of pursuing Salah.
Omar Maghrabi, SPL’s CEO, said during his address at the World Football Summit on Wednesday that Salah would be welcome in the Saudi league, but the clubs are the parties responsible for negotiating with players.
Saudi Pro League clubs dismiss claims of talks with Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah
https://arab.news/5rdb3
Saudi Pro League clubs dismiss claims of talks with Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah
- Asharq Al-Awsat report describes media hints at possible Salah move to Kingdom as ‘baseless rumors’
- Sources say major clubs Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli, along with Al-Qadisiyah and NEOM, have not considered contacting Salah, Liverpool, or his agent
Real Madrid, Zalgiris headline adidas NextGen EuroLeague in Abu Dhabi
- 8 top under-18 teams compete for place in Athens final in May
- Tournament is at city’s Space42 Arena from Feb. 27 to March 1
RIYADH: Abu Dhabi will have Europe’s brightest young basketball talent this week at the adidas NextGen EuroLeague tournament.
Eight of the continent’s leading under-18 teams will compete from Feb. 27 to March 1 at Space42 Arena, with a place at the finals in Athens on the line. The finals in May will be staged alongside the EuroLeague Final Four in the Greek capital.
Defending continental champions Zalgiris Kaunas and five-time title holders Real Madrid headline the Abu Dhabi qualifier, which forms part of the 2025–26 adidas NextGen EuroLeague season.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four and will play in a round-robin format. The winners of each group will advance to Sunday’s championship game, while placement fixtures will determine the remaining standings.
The Abu Dhabi event follows the Ulm qualifier, won by U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, who have already secured their place in Athens. The winners of upcoming tournaments in Bologna (March 13–15) and Belgrade (March 20–22) will complete the finals lineup.
Group A features Real Madrid alongside U18 Aris Thessaloniki, U18 Dubai Basketball and U18 AS Monaco.
Aris enter their third season in the competition, having finished seventh at the Munich qualifier last year with a 2–2 record after placing sixth in Abu Dhabi the previous campaign.
Dubai Basketball are also competing in their third NextGen season. The UAE side finished eighth in Ulm last year with a 0–4 record but claimed a notable win over U18 Mega Super Belgrade at the NextGen Finals.
However, they missed another victory against U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to finish 1–2 overall. Dubai previously hosted a 2024 qualifier, ending with a 1–3 record.
Monaco make their second appearance after an eighth-place finish in Paris in 2024.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be aiming to reassert their dominance after an uncharacteristic third-place finish at last season’s Munich qualifier ended a streak of 11 consecutive qualifying tournament victories.
The Spanish powerhouse had also won 19 straight NextGen games dating back to the 2022 finals in Belgrade before falling to Zalgiris in the group stage last year.
Real are the competition’s most successful club with five continental titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024) and are competing in their 19th consecutive season since 2007–08.
Group B has reigning champions Zalgiris Kaunas take on U18 London Lions, U18 Next Gen Team Abu Dhabi and U18 Valencia Basket. London Lions make their tournament debut as the club continues to expand their European presence.
The Next Gen Team Abu Dhabi compete in their fifth season and second under head coach Dogus Balbay, a two-time EuroLeague champion. He is assisted by former Italian international Massimo Bulleri and Kheeryoung Rhee.
Valencia Basket are making their 10th appearance in the competition and their eighth in succession. The Spanish side have twice reached the finals, in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2019 and as hosts in 2021, and finished runners-up in Munich last season after three consecutive fifth-place finishes.
Zalgiris, one of the most storied names in the tournament’s history, are appearing in their 24th edition — having featured in every NextGen season since its inception.
The Lithuanian club won the inaugural event in 2003, added another title in 2007 and lifted the trophy again last summer in Abu Dhabi. They also reached the championship game in 2005, 2006 and 2011, underlining their pedigree at youth level.
