Mohamed Salah turned 34 at the World Cup, picked up an assist in Egypt's opener against Belgium, and somehow that's the least interesting thing happening around him right now. The real story is the transfer circus building in the background — and Al Nassr are running the show.
With Salah's Liverpool exit confirmed and his contract terminated early, he enters the market as one of the most attractive free agents in years. No transfer fee. At the peak of his visibility. Coming off a World Cup assist in the 19th minute against one of Europe's better defensive setups. The queue of suitors is long, but Al Nassr are not quietly interested — they're reportedly pushing hard, with manager Jorge Jesus personally backing the move.
Ronaldo, Mané, and now Salah?
The pitch from Al Nassr is almost cartoonishly ambitious: pair Salah with Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, with Sadio Mané already at the club. That's the spine of the Liverpool side that won the Champions League and a Premier League title under Klopp, now potentially reassembled in Riyadh. Whether nostalgia is a good foundation for a transfer decision is another matter, but the star power is undeniable.
Financially, Al Nassr are reportedly ready to match or exceed Ronaldo's current package when commercial and sponsorship incentives are included. That's a number few clubs anywhere in the world can approach.
They're not alone, though. Al-Ittihad have reportedly tabled a three-year proposal worth around £65 million net per season — serious money, and notable given they tried and failed to sign Salah back in 2023. Fenerbahçe have made genuine progress in talks. Al-Hilal are monitoring. PSG and MLS clubs remain options if Salah rules out the Middle East entirely.
The World Cup factor
Every good performance Egypt produce between now and the final whistle of their campaign raises Salah's leverage. He's not deciding anything until the tournament ends — and that's smart. Arriving at negotiations as an active World Cup participant, not a player who just wrapped up a league season, changes the dynamic.
For anyone pricing up outright transfers or monitoring Saudi Pro League futures, Al Nassr's squad value shifts considerably if this goes through. A Ronaldo-Salah partnership, even at 40 and 34, would make them the most-watched club side outside Europe almost overnight.
Al-Ittihad's £65m-per-season offer is currently the most concrete number on the table. Al Nassr need to beat it — or convince Salah that Mané and Ronaldo are worth the discount.
