LeBron James, the renowned NBA player, has been spotted in Saudi Arabia, fueling speculation about a potential multi-billion dollar deal.
Just weeks after joking about the possibility of playing in Saudi, James was seen in the country, adding to rumors of a two-year, $1 billion contract offer. The 38-year-old Lakers star shared a selfie on his Instagram story, taken by Prince Bader bin Farhan Alsaud, Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture.
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The purpose of James’ visit to Riyadh, remains unclear, although reports suggest he may have been invited to attend a friendly match at AZM Academy.
Footage of James leaving a building with businessmen also went viral on social media.
According to media reports, while Lakers fans need not worry about James leaving the team anytime soon, it is not entirely improbable for him to consider playing in Saudi for a substantial sum of money once his NBA career comes to an end.]
Other superstar athletes, such as Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson, have already made the Kingdom their new home.
No transfer
In a related development, Liverpool has emerged victorious in the battle to keep Mohamed Salah at the club, as Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad has abandoned its pursuit of the Egyptian forward. Al-Ittihad had been prepared to offer a staggering £200 million for Salah, but they have now given up on signing him before their transfer window closes.
Similarly, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho will not be transferring to Saudi’s Al-Ettifaq, as the Saudi transfer window closed without a deal. Instead, he will be staying at Old Trafford and will engage in discussions with the coaching staff during the international break. Sancho’s future at Manchester United had been uncertain after a disagreement with manager Erik ten Hag regarding his omission from the squad for a recent match against Arsenal. However, all parties have now resolved to work together and focus on improving Sancho’s performance.
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