Saudi Pro League club could sign Erling Haaland in £200m move – but there's a catch
A big-money £200million move to the Saudi Pro League could beckon for one of Europe's deadliest marksmen, Manchester City's Erling Haaland, says an Arsenal icon.
Haaland has been tipped to make a sensational move to Saudi Arabia (Image: Getty)
Erling Haaland has been tipped for a future switch to the Saudi Pro League by Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit - but only after the Norwegian ace has concluded his peak years in Europe. Haaland's staggering goal tally is already the stuff of legend, with the forward notching up 100 in a mere 105 appearances for Manchester City.
His record-breaking spree includes becoming the fastest player to hit 50 Premier League goals and equalling the eight league hat-tricks scored by legends Thierry Henry and Michael Owen.
The 2024/25 season sees no dip in form for the prolific striker, as he's already bagged 10 league goals in just five matches, including consecutive hat-tricks and a brace against Brentford.
With the Saudi Pro League on a mission to lure in football's elite, Haaland's name would presumably be on their radar, however, according to Petit, any potential move is likely on hold until later in his career.
"I think one day we could end up seeing Erling Haaland in Saudi Arabia, depending on how they develop," Petit revealed to TVKampen. "But, because Haaland can't write his name in the history books with his nation, he'll have to do it all at club level, and he will concentrate on that for a very long time."
At 24, Haaland is at the zenith of his powers, already boasting a treble at club level and showing no signs of slowing down in one of the world's most competitive leagues.
However, despite Haaland's goal-scoring prowess for Norway, with an impressive tally of 32 goals in 35 appearances, he and fellow countryman Martin Odegaard have yet to lead their national team to a major tournament. In fact, the last time Norway graced the finals of a major competition was at Euro 2000, having been knocked out in qualifying rounds for the subsequent 12 events.
Haaland and Odegaard haven't been able to help their nation to a major tournament (Image: Pedja Milosavljevic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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Petit believes that this international shortfall will fuel Haaland's drive in domestic football, but once the striker has reached and left behind his peak, a move to a place like Saudi Arabia could be on the cards - not for financial gain but as a new challenge towards the twilight of his career.
"If he considers going to Saudi, it won't be down to money," Petit continued."I think his ambition is more than money and it's not like he isn't earning well at City.
"He wants to break records in every game, and even if Saudi offered £200 million, he'd refuse to go unless it's towards the end of his career when I think he might end up out there."
