There were a number of high profile former Liverpool players who bought into the Saudi project one year ago.
Rewind back to the summer of 2023 and there was a bit of an earthquake happening in the European transfer market.
Newly funded by the country’s Public Investment Fund, several teams from the Saudi Pro League began raiding big western clubs, including Liverpool.
The Reds surprisingly saw both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson move to Al Ittihad and Al Ettifaq respectively. Out of contract, Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino also swapped Merseyside for Middle East.
Soon after another Anfield hero, Sadio Mane, rocked up at Al Nassr, while Steven Gerrard took Gini Wijnaldum to partner Henderson at Al Ettifaq.
Roberto Firmino heading for Al Ahli exit
This year there feels to be a little less pull from the Saudi Pro League. Although the wages on offer are still enormous, the project perhaps hasn’t quite been as successful as they might have foreseen.
There are still big names being linked, though. Liverpool fans will be wary of losing Alisson Becker, who continues to be linked with a transfer.
A crumb of comfort is that Alisson may well be put off at seeing how his former Liverpool teammates have fared out in Saudi Arabia.
Henderson lasted just six months before he moved to Ajax, while Firmino has struggled to get going. Fabinho has been injured a lot, while only Mane and Wijnaldum have made a good go of it.
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Given how close they were at Liverpool though, it’s reasonable to think that Alisson would place a lot of stock into what Firmino’s experience has been.
And after claims that Al Ahli were already looking to sell Firmino in January, journalist Rudy Galetti now says that manager Matthias Jaissle has asked the club to get rid of the Brazilian this summer.
“Al Ahli, no change in the position of Matthias Jaissle – confirmed for the next season as their head coach – towards Roberto Firmino,” Galetti reports on X.
“The German manager asked to part ways with the Brazilian and look for a new ST: The Saudi club is working in this direction.”
Where will Roberto Firmino go?
It was a shame that Firmino chose to follow the money and head to Saudi Arabia last year.
The 32-year-old had just come off the back of a good final season with Liverpool and he reportedly had good offers in Europe.
At one stage Real Madrid were even said to be considering signing Firmino on a free transfer. That would have been great to see.
After a year of him being on bloated Saudi wages – and underperforming over there – it’s impossible that Madrid would consider Liverpool’s former No.9 now.
There were rumours that Gerrard wanted Firmino at Al Ettifaq in the New Year and staying in Saudi Arabia would seem like the only real option for Bobby.
Failing that, maybe Firmino could head back and finish the circle back home in Brazil. Philippe Coutinho looks set to return to Vasco da Gama, maybe one final link-up could be possible.