Chelsea bought three of their gamers to the Saudi Professional League in the summertime of 2023, with N’Golo Kane, Eduoard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly all swapping the Premier League for Saudi Arabia.
Kouliably highlights that the previous Chelsea trio mentioned their respective strikes with one another throughout that interval, with the centre-back opting to hitch Al Hilal, Mendy signing for Al Ahli and Kante transferring to Al Ittihad.
However whereas Koulibaly suggests the surface notion is that they are there merely to select up a profitable paycheck and chill out whereas having fun with their soccer, the Senegal worldwide highlights how that is removed from the reality.
Chelsea trio mentioned Saudi transfer collectively in 2023
“We spoke to one another on the time,” Koulibaly tells FFT. “We have been a few of the first gamers to come back over right here after Cristiano Ronaldo, and we didn’t know the place we have been coming.
“Everybody was a bit afraid to come back out right here. However at this time we’re actually completely happy to be right here. The Saudi folks offer you a really massive welcome; they invite you to eat at their place even when they don’t know you. For my faith, too [Koulibaly is a Muslim], it was a good selection for me and my household.
“We’re a part of a mission to develop Saudi soccer, and the extent is rising. Final season, it felt superb to win my first ever league title – I attempted with Napoli however missed out three or 4 instances. Everybody thought we got here to Saudi Arabia only for trip, however we’re right here to work for the membership. There’s stress at Al Hilal, as they’re used to profitable.”
Al Hilal, 2021 Asian Champions League winners, will play at subsequent 12 months’s 32-team Membership World Cup. Having gained the Saudi Professional League final season, and with gamers corresponding to Neymar, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Renan Lodi, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Aleksandar Mitrovic inside their aspect, there is definitely expectation for them to carry out.
A very good efficiency there may enhance the Saudi Professional League’s credibility, too. Drawn in a gaggle containing Actual Madrid, Mexican champions Pachuca and Purple Bull Salzburg, there is definitely potential for development.
“I feel we will do properly,” Koulibaly provides.
