Real Madrid miss out on HUGE fee from Saudi transfer

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 4 Jul 2023 15:45 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid appear to have missed out on a €30m transfer windfall – after former player Takefusa Kubo rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League.

The Japan winger joined Los Blancos from FC Tokyo in 2019 but left for Real Sociedad this time last year, having failed to make a single first-team appearance.

And, after a strong first season with the Basque club, Kubo seems determined to push on in 2023/24 – which will see La Real return to the Champions League.

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According to AS, the 22-year-old has turned down an offer from Al-Hilal which would have seen him earn €160m over four years.

Al-Hilal – who tried to sign Lionel Messi before he opted to join Inter Miami instead – are said to have been willing to pay Kubo’s €60m release clause, of which Real Madrid would reportedly have received 50%.

But given Kubo’s age and the fact that he’ll have the opportunity to play in the world’s top club competition next term, his decision to stay with La Real hardly comes as a great surprise.

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Kubo may not be on his way to the Middle East this summer, then, but numerous star names from Europe’s top five leagues are – none bigger than Karim Benzema, who will officially leave Real Madrid for Saudi champions Al-Ittihad on July 1.

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Benzema will be joined by France teammate N’Golo Kante – whose former Chelsea colleagues Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have joined Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal respectively.

Such move are all part of a concerted push to bring top players to the Saudi Pro League – the profile of which was significantly raised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al-Nassr back in January.

That extends to the dugouts, too: Steven Gerrard was approached by Al-Effitaq about becoming their new manager but ultimately opted against it.