Erling Haaland tipped for Saudi Pro League move as £200million transfer claim is made
Goal-scoring phenomenon Erling Haaland has been touted to make a headline-grabbing switch to the Saudi Pro League by an Arsenal midfield icon
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorErling Haaland will make a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League says Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit - but only near the end of his career.
After only over two seasons in England, the Norwegian's records speak for themselves: 100 goals in just 105 Manchester City appearances, the quickest man to reach 50 Premier League goals and eight league hat-tricks - the same number as Thierry Henry and Michael Owen.
His unfathomable goal-scoring exploits have continued into the 2024/25 season, too, as he's already tallied 10 goals in the league in just five games, as well as back-to-back hat-tricks and a double against Brentford.
With the Saudi Pro League looking to attract the biggest names in the game, there is none bigger than Haaland. Though any move may have to wait until after his peak, Petit believes the Norwegian marksman may be bound for the Middle East.
"I think one day we could end up seeing Erling Haaland in Saudi Arabia, depending on how they develop," Petit told TVKampen when discussing the City man.
"But because Haaland can’t write his name in the history books with his nation, he’ll have to do it all at club level, and he will concentrate on that for a very long time."
Now 24, Haaland is in the prime of his career and proving an unstoppable force in one of the toughest leagues in the world, already having a treble to his name at club level.
Internationally, however, he and fellow superstar Martin Odegaard have failed to bring Norway to any sort of success. Though some might think that the goals Haaland would bring - and has brought to the Norwegian national aside, scoring 32 goals in 35 appearances - accompanied by Arsenal's playmaker would make for a dreamy duo.
Yet, neither player has been to a major tournament with their country. In fact, the last time Norway reached the finals of a major tournament was at Euro 2000, as they've been eliminated in qualifying for the past 12 competitions.
Petit feels as though a lack of success at the international level will motivate Haaland domestically and that after he has achieved all he can, it will be somewhere like Saudi Arabia where he chooses to switch things up - and not just to earn a bountiful payday.
"If he considers going to Saudi, it won’t be down to money," Petit added. "I think his ambition is more than money and it’s not like he isn’t earning well at City. He wants to break records in every game, and even if Saudi offered £200 million, he’d refuse to go unless it’s towards the end of his career when I think he might end up out there."
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