According to reports, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister described Mohamed Salah as an ideal target for the Saudi Pro League but emphasized that the country’s current strategy focuses on signing young players.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, speaking on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, said about Liverpool’s Egyptian star: “He is a star and an icon for Arab Muslims. His playing style perfectly suits the Saudi league.”

He added: “From day one, Saudi Arabia’s name was linked with Salah, even though no negotiations took place. Still, it was a good thing.” Addressing transfer rumors, he explained: “Now, whenever a player is about to renew his contract, they say he is coming to Saudi Arabia, but most of these reports—90% of them—are untrue.”

The Saudi sports minister, referring to the signings of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo (40), Karim Benzema (37), and Sadio Mané (33), stated that clubs are now prioritizing young players this season. He added: “Saudi players now train with more motivation and discipline because they know they must compete against big stars every week and must be ready.”

Al-Faisal also spoke about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s professionalism: “Developing such a mindset takes time. Ronaldo is always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. This determination and discipline directly influence young players, and I believe this is our real goal.”

He concluded by discussing the league’s rejuvenation strategy: “The average age of players this season has dropped from 29 to 26, and our goal is to bring it down to 24.”