Salah would suit Saudi league but focus is more on youth says minister

JEDDAH - Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah would be a perfect fit for the Saudi Pro League but the trend is towards younger players, according to sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal.

Salah, 32, was linked with a move to Saudi before signing a contract extension to 2027 with the Premier League leaders this month.

Hes a superstar. Hes an iconic Arab Muslim. He fits the identity of playing in the Saudi League, said Al-Faisal, speaking at the Saudi Formula One Grand Prix, of the Egypt international.

I think from day one they linked Saudi to him, even though there wasnt any discussions. But its good to have that, you know.

Now you can see that any player who wants to renew their contract...theyre saying theyre coming to Saudi. Most, 90% of it, is not true.

The minister said clubs had recently gone more for youth after bringing in the likes of Al-Nassrs Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, Al-Ittihads Karim Benzema, 37, and Salahs former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, 33, also at Al-Nassr.

You can see the Saudi players being more determined, more disciplined in their training because they know that theyre going to face top players every weekend and they have to be ready, Al-Faisal said.

It takes you a long time to get that mentality in, he continued, citing the example set by Ronaldo of being first in for training and last to leave.

Its the determination that is there, that image is reflected straight away to the youth. And I think thats really the goal of what we wanted to achieve.

Al-Faisal said the average age in the Saudi league had dropped this year from 29 to 26 and that the aim was to get it down to 24.

He also hoped it would become a two-way street.

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