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NBA stars react to Al-Hilal’s mega offer... and Mbappé responds!
PSG have accepted a world record fee for the 24-year-old and sports stars around the world shake their heads in disbelief.
The saga surrounding Kylian Mbappé's future took a new twist this week as it emerged that Paris Saint-Germain have given the thumbs up to an eye-watering offer from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal tabled a huge €300 million ($332.4 million) bid for the 24-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract at PSG.
If Mbappé agrees terms with Al-Hilal and the deal goes through, he will become the most expensive signing in football history. But it’s a proposal that will have given the striker plenty to think about bearing in mind his own ambitions and career goals. He has won all of the domestic honours possible in France but has his eyes on bigger prizes - and he has still yet to win the biggest of all at club level, the Champions League. Not to mention the Ballon d’Or...
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Some reports claim that Al-Hilal would be willing to negotiate a one-year deal and allow Mbappé the freedom to move on to fulfill his ambitions in one of Europe’s major leagues although that seems unlikely. There aren’t many clubs around that can actually afford him - Real Madrid could meet his wages but only if he arrives on a free next summer.
The news of Al-Hilal’s monster offer for the France international has drawn opinions from across the sporting world, and not just in football. LeBron James was the third best-paid player in the NBA last season and to put Al-Hilal’s offer into context, the $776 million that Kylian could potentially earn in just one season in Saudi Arabia exceeds the total earnings that James has amassed in 20 seasons in the NBA - $531 million.
But LeBron sees the funny side and posted a gif of Forrest Gump haring down a country lane and into the distance, captioned: “Me headed to Saudi when they call (Klutch Sports CEO) Rich Paul and (James’ business manager) Maverick Carter for that 1 year deal!”
Meanwhile Warriors forward Draymond Green tittered, “They got basketball leagues too right? I don’t the ink on my contract has dried up yet!”
And they weren’t alone. Here’s a look at some of the other reactions to Al-Hilal’s offer - including a response from Mbappé himself!