Jeddah (© 2023 Afriquinfos)- It’s official. Kalidou Koulibaly is a player for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Arabian league. At just 32 years old, the Senegalese defender joins the Saudi Pro League for a salary that would make him the highest paid African player in the world. The captain of the Teranga Lions assumes the financial choice to the detriment of the sporting challenge.
In recent months, the Saudi Pro League has been particularly attractive to stars at the end of their careers, but also to confirmed players from the European championships. Kalidou Koulibaly has just followed the trend. The now ex-Chelsea player has signed up with Al-Hilal until 2026 for an estimated budget of 24 million euros. But what turns heads is the salary that the Senegalese colossus will receive. An astronomical amount of 25 million euros per year, which would make him the highest paid Senegalese footballer in history, thus surpassing Sadio Mané and his emoluments estimated at just over 20 million euros at Bayern Munich.
The Senegalese international, joined in his new club, the 32-year-old Malian international striker Moussa Marega as well as the Nigerian striker (37 caps, 16 goals) Odion Ighalo. He will face in the Saudi championship players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, or his ex-teammates with the Blues, N’golo Kanté, Hakim Ziyech and his teammate in selection, Edouard Mendy. All responded to the “sports project” wrapped in large envelopes of petrodollars proposed by the leaders of Saudi clubs.
Faced with criticism on social networks on the choice of financial comfort to the detriment of the sporting challenge with the risk of losing competitiveness, Koulibaly assumes: “I can’t deny it. I will be able to help my whole family to live well, from my parents to my cousins, and support the activities of my association “Capitaine du Cœur” in Senegal. We started building a clinic in my parents’ village… I have a lot of projects to help young people” did he declare. However, Kalidou’s philanthropic commitments will not guarantee him a place in the selection. The former Neapolitan says he had a frank discussion with Aliou Cissé “When I found out that the club was interested in me, I spoke directly to the coach because the national team is very important to me. (…) With the selection I know that there will be no preferential treatment. If I perform well, he will select me, if I am less efficient than others who play in Europe, he will select them. So there is no problem with that…”.
Kalidou and Mendy can still count on the support of their star player, Sadio Mané. “I would never be against those players who go to China or Saudi Arabia to join La Tanière. As long as you play, perform and are there for the team, you meet all the criteria to be selected. The coach is aware of this. Seeing Koulibaly or Edouard Mendy in the Saudi championship would not be a disadvantage to seeing them in the national team. I think it’s a matter of choice. It’s not a problem, the national team is open to everyone.” said the Bayern player.
Boniface T.
2023-06-29 08:08:29
#Departure #Koulibalys #Arabia #Salary #attraction #early #retirement #captain #Lions
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