Ronaldo eclipsed! Liverpool face record-breaking Salah threat

Robin Bairner

Updated: 1 Mar 2024 13:29 GMT
3 min read

Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo — © IMAGO

Liverpool face a renewed threat over Mohamed Salah, with the Saudi Pro League lining up a record bid for the attacker.

Article continues under the video

The big-spending Saudi’s are prepared to make Salah the highest-paid player in world football, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo, who is already playing in the league with Al-Nassr.

FootballTransfers exclusively reported Al-Ittihad's interest in signing the Egypt star and Tottenham's Son Heung-min, while HITC adds that any deal for the former will make him the best-paid player in the world.

Salah’s current Liverpool deal is due to expire in 2025, and with manager Jurgen Klopp departing in the summer, it has been suggested that this could be a mutually beneficial point for the pair to part company after seven successful years.

READ MORE: Latest Liverpool transfer rumours

Salah’s incredible Saudi salary

What Salah is being offered by the Saudi Pro League is unclear at this time but indicates that his salary will be in excess of Cristiano Ronaldo’s.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the world’s highest-paid footballer at present, with the 37-year-old scooping around €3.5 million per week.

This is in line with Salah being a more valuable draw for the Pro League.

© IMAGO - Mohamed Salah could become the best-paid player in the world

© IMAGO - Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al-Nassr

Firstly, Ronaldo is not considered to be in the band of elite players on the world stage any longer, despite a prolific scoring record for Al-Nassr. Salah, on the other hand, is boasting a similar rate of goals but at a far higher level with Liverpool, where he remains a key figure.

Secondly, Salah boasts incredible local appeal as he is one of the biggest stars in the Arab world, while Ronaldo’s recent behaviour, which saw him banned for one game, has diminished his reputation.

Liverpool are not about to allow Salah to leave without a fight, with the Anfield club set to revisit his contract situation imminently, but clearly the Reds cannot afford the type of riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League.