Superstar XI who snubbed mega-money Saudi Arabia transfers including Mbappe
At last, Premier League managers can relax.
The Saudi Pro League's window shut on Thursday, giving European clubs nearly four months of peace before the transfer chaos starts again. Several players have moved to the Middle East, including Neymar, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane and Karim Benzema.
Yet some superstars did say no to a Saudi payday, such as Leicester legend Jamie Vardy, Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, three-time Champions League winner Keylor Navas and new Roma striker Romelu Lukaku. Managers have also turned down a move to the Middle East, including Jose Mourinho and Fulham boss Marco Silva.
With that in mind, here's Mirror Football's XI who turned down the chance to play in Saudi Arabia. P.S. There aren't many defenders - turns out the Saudis aren't that interested!
Hugo Lloris
The 2018 World Cup winner, 36, is still on the books at Tottenham but is unlikely to play for the club again, as they enter a new era. He was expected to complete a summer transfer - with Saudi clubs interested - but he didn't receive the right approach.
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Lloris, who also rejected an offer from Nice, is now set to stay at Spurs until at least January. There are still a couple of exit routes, with Turkey's transfer window remaining open until September 15. Tottenham could also agree a pay-off with the goalkeeper.
Sergio Ramos
Ramos, 37, was tipped to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, but he turned down the big bucks to sign for boyhood club Sevilla. "I had the opportunity to continue in Paris for two years, but I didn’t see it," Ramos told reporters. "I have always been moved by impulses and heart. Not by money. That’s why I didn’t go to Arabia or the MLS."
It's said the Saudis offered Ramos 15 times more than Sevilla did. He added: "It was a dream to return here. The time to return was now, as I could help the club in a delicate moment, and the economic issue has not been a problem because we solved it in five seconds."
Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets turned down the Saudis to play in the United States (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)OK, he's not technically a defender, but this is a bit of a struggle. Busquets, 35, left Barcelona in June and received several offers from Saudi clubs. Yet he decided to join David Beckham's Inter Miami and play alongside Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba. The trio have already won a trophy in the United States, the Leagues Cup.
Nicolas Otamendi
According to reports in Argentina, the Saudis were interested in signing several members from last year's World Cup-winning squad. Even Tottenham's Cristian Romero, a 25-year-old just entering his theoretical prime, was on their transfer shortlist.
Perhaps the most believable candidate was Otamendi, the former Manchester City defender who turned 35 earlier this year. Yet he's staying at Benfica for now.
Angel Di Maria
Speaking of Argentines and Benfica, Di Maria was also wanted by the Saudis. The 35-year-old was a free agent after leaving Juventus in June but rejected a move to the Middle East because he wanted to rejoin Benfica, the club he played for between 2007 and 2010.
"Saudi Arabia, I had many calls from them," said Di Maria. "The numbers they are offering are crazy, but I chose with my heart, I wanted to return to Benfica."
Benfica's president Rui Costa has confirmed Di Maria "came without any signing bonus" and "didn't even ask for another euro". Money can't always buy love.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is still one of Real Madrid's main players (AFP via Getty Images)Modric might be 37, but he's still one of the best midfielders in the world. The tireless veteran could've been available on a free transfer during the summer but was persuaded to sign a new one-year deal at Real Madrid. He's since revealed those Saudi offers.
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"Real Madrid expressed their desire to continue together in the spring, I had the same desire," Modric told Sportske Novosti. "We sat down and quickly agreed. It's always been like this with my club, for 12 years, and it cannot be changed.
"Our relationship is extraordinary. I'm so happy and fulfilled at Real Madrid, not thinking about other options. I don't even need to boost my ego with these stories about big offers.
"I just want to enjoy every moment in football and Real Madrid... I will work as much as possible to be among the protagonists this season as well. There are a lot of games, competitions, and there will be space for everyone."
Aaron Ramsey
Ramsey, 32, was available as a free agent after leaving French side Nice. Fans were quite surprised when he returned to his boyhood club Cardiff to play in the Championship, with the Saudis interested. Yet the Wales captain has since explained his decision.
"Saudi Arabia is a hot topic with players," said Ramsey. "There are financial rewards for going there, which are very rewarding, and a lot of players can’t see past that sort of thing. I turned down a life-changing amount of money by not going to Saudi Arabia.
"It was a lot, but I’ve been very fortunate in my career, and I’ve done okay so far. It was a real offer, but as soon as I knew there was an option to come back to Cardiff a lot of hard work went into getting that deal done.
"There were plenty of benefits to the offer over there, but it wasn’t the right time or the right thing to do for me, my career or my family.
"We’re seeing a lot of players make that move, and the financial side of it just seems extraordinary. For another individual, it might be life-changing, but for me, being around my family and things like that are priceless. You couldn't put a figure on that."
Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva has signed a new contract with Manchester City (Getty Images)The Man City favourite was one of the most sought-after players in the world after winning the Treble with Pep Guardiola's side. We can forget that video of Jack Grealish, after what appeared to be a few shandies, begging: "Please don't go! Bernardo!"
Barcelona were the favourites to sign Silva, but it's believed Al-Hilal tried to lure the 29-year-old to Saudi Arabia by offering to more than treble his wages. Yet Silva said no and signed a new contract with Man City, with more trophies seemingly inevitable.
Mohamed Salah
Did Salah really reject the Saudis? Perhaps not, but he didn't kick up a fuss when Al-Ittihad offered Liverpool £150m on deadline day. Some players in that situation would've done everything in their power to persuade their current employers to accept the money.
Yet the 31-year-old wanted to stay on Merseyside. There's a belief that Salah, the most famous Arabic footballer of them all, might still go to Saudi Arabia in January or next summer. But for now, he will help Jurgen Klopp's side win more silverware.
Lionel Messi
Messi was expected to join Al-Hilal and reignite his rivalry with Al-Nassr's Ronaldo after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired. The Argentina captain, 36, is an ambassador for Saudi Arabia and urges fans to visit the country in an advert.
Yet he didn't fancy a permanent move to the Middle East. Messi decided to join Miami instead and has adapted to Major League Soccer, arguably a weaker division than the Saudi Pro League, with ease. He's scored 11 goals in as many games for his new club.
Kylian Mbappe
PSG were keen to sell Mbappe, 24, during the summer, with his contract expiring in June 2024. Yet the only clubs who can afford to sign him are the four owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
Those are Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal. The latter of those submitted a world-record bid of £259m for Mbappe, but he had no interest in moving to Saudi Arabia. Thankfully for Al-Hilal, they did eventually sign Neymar, Mbappe's PSG teammate.
Our controversial Saudi snub XISaudi snub XI: Hugo Lloris; Sergio Ramos, Sergio Busquets, Nicolas Otamendi; Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, Aaron Ramsey, Bernardo Silva; Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe
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