Mohamed Salah is ‘not a fit’ for the Saudi Pro League and teams shouldn’t make an approach to sign him.
That’s the unexpected stance of Al-Kholood owner Ben Harburg, who has warned against bringing Salah to the Middle East.
The Liverpool superstar’s future in the Premier League has been thrown into major doubt after his bombshell interview.
He revealed that he felt he had been ‘thrown under the bus’ and that his relationship with manager Arne Slot had broken down.
His shocking words came after he sat on the bench for yet another game for the Reds last weekend, amid their dire season so far.
And since then, it was decided by Slot and co. that Salah should not travel to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Liverpool won that game 1-0 to bring some much-needed positivity, leaving Salah on the outskirts ahead of AFCON.
The Egyptian could now be set for an exit from Anfield in the coming transfer window and he has been linked elsewhere.
talkSPORT understands that multiple Saudi Pro League clubs are looking at trying to sign the 33-year-old in January.
But Al-Kholood chief, Harburg, doesn’t think it is smart business.
He said at the World Football Summit in Riyadh: “There’s a narrative around him that they asked him to come before and he rejected us.
“These are not people that like to be spurned and are going to come back around the second time.
“So I do think that there’s already, even amongst the public, much more apprehension around his coming into the league.
“He’s 33 years-old, he got paid a boatload [at Liverpool]… and has underperformed massively since then.”
Harburg then continued to name a superstar that Saudi sides should be trying to sign instead of Salah.
“I’m sure some people like his star power, he’s from the region, but my sentiment is that he is not a fit for our league,” he added.
“If it were between him and Vinicius Jr., I’d take Vinicius. I think Vinicius should come here and thrive. I actually think it might end up being a better environment for someone like him.
“But I’m hoping we go after those 25-year-old next wave players rather than guys like Salah, who definitely this would be the last stop of his career.”
Harburg clarifies comments
Harburg joined talkSPORT’s White and Jordan on Thursday morning to speak further on his thoughts on Salah and Saudi Arabia.
He clarified: “My comments on Salah were not to say we don’t want stars, the first comment I made publicly was we don’t want to overpay for them, so if he wants to come to us, I said welcome him, but he needs to take a commensurate salary…we’re happy to bring these players in, as long as they’re taking commensurate pay, we shouldn’t be five times over paying them to be here.
“And then ideally targeting players who are earlier in their career, so they can grow up and contribute rather than viewing it as one last stop before they retire.”
When asked whether Al-Kholood, his club, are going to be bidding for him, he said: “We couldn’t afford him anyway!
“In any event, he certainly wouldn’t be our type of player. We look for players abroad who are around 25 or younger, folks that are in the beginning or middle of their career and sold on to other, higher-spending clubs in our league or across the world.”
Harburg added: “It doesn’t hurt to bring in stars, but I’ve been adamant with our fans and media that we won’t be hiring stars, we want to build them rather than buy them.”
Which teams are interested in Salah?
talkSPORT understands that Al-Hilal still have Salah on their radar, having seriously explored a move before the Club World Cup.
NEOM FC hold a concrete interest in the forward too, with them prepared to make a move if he becomes available.
But their approach will also come down to how affordable he is.
Al-Qadsiah are also monitoring the situation closely and would be capable of self-funding a deal for the Liverpool star.
Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo could also play a key role in any transfer due to his close relationship with Salah.
And league officials see him as a potential poster boy for them, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo.
On how much it would cost to bring Salah to the Middle East, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs revealed: “The Salah fee will have to be higher than the Darwin Nunez one, which was £45million plus add-ons. It won’t be the £150million that was bid back in 2023.
“But to defend him a little bit, Salah would get a three-year contract on Ronaldo-like money, so that’s the best part of £600million wages, agent fees, even if he was a free transfer. That is a lifetime budget for a smaller Saudi Pro League club.”