Elite talent flocked to the Saudi Pro League this summer, but it seems neither of these two superstars were interested in a move
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City during the preseason friendly match between Manchester City and Yokohama F.Marinos at National Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.
Saudi Pro League clubs reportedly made multiple attempts to sign Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski this summer.
The last transfer window saw an unprecedented influx of top talent head to the Gulf kingdom – with Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane among the marquee arrivals.
And it's beginning to feel like there was no star who wasn't approached by a Saudi outfit over the past few months.
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona during the prematch warm up ahead the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Cadiz CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that De Bruyne and Lewandowski both turned down offers from Saudi Arabia in favour of staying at Manchester City and Barcelona respectively.
Fabrizio Romano adds that David Alaba was also a target for the Saudi Pro League but that the Austria captain was always set on remaining with Real Madrid.
Saudi Arabia run football now
Despite the plethora of top players taking up lucrative contracts in the Middle East, several have spoken out against the exodus from major European leagues.
They include De Bruyne's Man City teammate Rodri, who has called for measures to protect European clubs from losing younger talent – such as 21-year-old Spanish prodigy Gabri Veiga – to the Saudi Pro League.
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City warms up prior to the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester City at Turf Moor on August 11, 2023 in Burnley, England.
FIFA figures released earlier this week showed that only English clubs spent more than Saudi Pro League outfits on signings from overseas this summer.
Neymar was the most expensive arrival in Saudi Arabia during the transfer window just gone, joining Al Hilal from PSG for £77m, followed by Otavio and Malcolm – who completed £51.5m moves from Porto to Al Nassr and from Zenit Saint Petersburg to Al Hilal respectively.
