Sport

Analysis: Saudi bid for Mbappé signals next step in strategy

Saudi Arabia’s record-busting €300 million purchase is a signal of intent from the gulf power

A move by Kylian Mbappé to Saudi Arabia would send shockwaves through football if it succeeds. Picture: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Saudi Arabia sent the football world into a flurry of debate on Monday morning with news breaking that it was putting together a world record €300 million bid through its public investment fund (PIF) to lure soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé from Paris St Germain (PSG) to Al-Hilal, one of the top clubs in its league.

There’s a lot of context behind this bid which points to the shifting power bases in football and the sport’s ...