Saudi Pro League revives interest in Barcelona star
Cameron Smith
- 29 Sept 2023 13:15 BST
- 3 min read
Saad Bguir believes the Saudi Pro League “needs top-level players like [Robert] Lewandowski” as the division continues to pump money into football.
Bguir currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Abha Club and thinks that adding the Barcelona forward would help the league grow exponentially.
He told the press in Saudi Arabia, as per Sport: “We need top-level players like Lewandowski. Those are the type of signings we should make if possible.”
READ MORE: Neymar ‘upset’ about new home in Saudi Arabia
Lewandowski was heavily linked with a move to Abha Club during the summer as their manager is his countryman Czeslaw Michniewicz, who reportedly has a great relationship with the former Bayern Munich star.
In June, Sky Germany claimed that the Polish star was wanted by Saudi Arabia, though a club wasn't named. Spanish journalist Javi Miguel then followed up on this by saying: "For Saudi Arabia, signing Lewandowski is easy. His release clause is €500 million."
However, Lewandowski rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League in favour of staying at Camp Nou.
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The Poland international, 35, scored 33 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions during his debut campaign at Barcelona last season and currently has six goals and four assists in eight appearances in 2023-24.
Lewandowski to Saudi Arabia?
If Abha Club, or any other Saudi Pro League team, are interested in activating Lewandowski’s €500m release clause then the Barcelona man would become the most expensive signing in football history by some distance.
Neymar’s €90m move from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal is the most expensive transfer in Saudi Pro League history, followed by Otavio’s €60m switch to Al-Nassr from FC Porto.
However, that record could be beaten by Mohamed Salah if Al-Ittihad once again push to sign the Egypt international during the January transfer window.
They were linked with a world-record move for Salah this summer, but were unable to agree a deal with Liverpool or the player.
