Al Ettifaq’s Subtle Jibe at Al Ittihad Amid Mo Salah Transfer Saga
In a recent twist of events, Al Ettifaq, the Saudi Pro League side, has managed to grab the spotlight with the signing of Demarai Gray from Everton. The undisclosed transfer fee, rumored to be around £8 million, has set the stage for a new chapter in Gray’s career as he embarks on a four-year journey with Al Ettifaq. The club, managed by none other than football legend Steven Gerrard, boasts a star-studded roster, including the likes of England midfielder Jordan Henderson, former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Scotland defender Jack Hendry, and striker Moussa Dembele.
But what made this signing particularly intriguing was not just the player himself but the subtle dig that Al Ettifaq took at their rivals, Al Ittihad. The backdrop to this saga was the widely circulated news that Al Ittihad was preparing a jaw-dropping £200 million bid for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. However, recent reports from France have contradicted these claims, suggesting that Salah is set to stay with Liverpool, with a contract offer reaching the staggering range of $500 million to $600 million (£400 million-£480 million) over three years.
Al Ettifaq seized the opportunity to mock Al Ittihad when announcing Gray’s arrival. They cleverly crafted a video shared on social media, using an arcade game menu-style animation to symbolize their choice of club. Initially, Liverpool was selected, and the controller hovered over notable figures like Alisson Becker and Luis Diaz. However, the twist came when attempting to select Salah. A pop-up of Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, appeared with a resounding “NO!” in red block capitals, reiterating Klopp’s unwavering stance that the 31-year-old Egyptian is not for sale.
The video continued with a playful journey across clubs, from Aston Villa to Everton, and even took a moment to poke fun at rivals Al Shabab and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The latter had confidently announced “here we go” in a previous transfer rumor involving Gray’s move to Al Shabab, only for the transfer to collapse due to unforeseen circumstances.
The animated adventure concluded with the triumphant announcement of Demarai Gray as Al Ettifaq’s latest signing, dressed in the club’s green home strip, accompanied by the words “signing successful.”
Salah’s agent has previously dismissed speculation about his client moving to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Salah’s commitment to Liverpool. As agent Ramy Abbas Issa emphasized in a post on August 7th, “Mohamed remains committed to Liverpool. If we considered leaving Liverpool this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer.”
As the football world eagerly watches Salah’s career unfold, this playful banter between Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad serves as a reminder that the drama of the transfer window is never short on entertainment. Meanwhile, Salah continues to shine on the pitch for Liverpool, contributing to their strong start to the season with 10 points in their first four games.