Son Heung-min is amazing. How did Saudi Arabia turn down 1939 billion? I couldn't believe it. Saudi economic power is incomparable

Aug 14, 2025

Son Heung-min is amazing. How did Saudi Arabia turn down 1939 billion? I couldn't believe it. Saudi economic power is incomparable
사진=원풋볼



Saudi Arabia's capital power is surprising even to the world's best players.

Al-Nasr announced the recruitment of Inigo Martinez on its official website on the 10th (Korea time). Inigo, who joined in free agency, signed a one-year contract with Al Nasr.

The sudden transfer to Al Nasr was shocking because Inigo was a member of Barcelona and even participated in the pre-season tour of Korea. Inigo confessed honestly that he chose to go to Saudi Arabia because of the money.




Spain's Mundo Deportivo highlighted an interview that Inigo had with Onda Basca, a Middle Eastern media outlet, on the 13th. Inigo confessed that he thought about going to Al Nasr when he returned to Barcelona from Korea.
Son Heung-min is amazing. How did Saudi Arabia turn down 1939 billion? I couldn't believe it. Saudi economic power is incomparable
사진=알 나스르
"The situation was difficult even during the tour, so I talked to Barcelona coach Flick on my way home. I spoke honestly in the hope that you would understand my situation. The contract was a year away, and considering the age of 34, it was difficult to reject such an offer. The coach was surprised, but soon understood, and was very disappointed in less than two minutes. There was a strong trust between us," he recalled.

Born in 1991, Inigozhi is entering the twilight of his career, but his team was Barcelona. Many people wonder if Barcelona could have refused to go to Al Nasr because it is one of the strongest in the world.

Inigo himself revealed why he chose to leave Barcelona for Al Nasr. He "I couldn't believe it when I saw the offer. No one will be ready to accept such a contract. At least to me it was. I'm just a player who has grown little by little through hard work and sweat while playing soccer, and this contract was really unexpected"Al-Nasr's conditions were too unconventional," he said.
Son Heung-min is amazing. How did Saudi Arabia turn down 1939 billion? I couldn't believe it. Saudi economic power is incomparable
사진=알 나스르
Inigo's annual salary estimate at Barcelona was 9 million euros (about 14.5 billion won). However, since the tax rate is high in Spain, the post-tax annual salary is half the amount before tax. Al-Nasr is a member of Saudi Arabia, a tax-free country. Al-Nasr reportedly offered Inigo 10 million euros (about 16 billion won) and even promised the possibility of an additional contract extension. If the existing salary has doubled, and the contract becomes a multi-year contract, a player who is in his mid-30s will be in trouble. In general, the older player naturally cuts his salary and can only sign a contract for one year.

Inigo "The economic level of this league is incomparable to anywhere else. Considering my career and what I've done at Barca, I decided I should take a step forward. My career is short, and it's hard to say no when this opportunity comes"It was not easy to resist the temptation of money," he answered honestly.

This is the moment when Son Heung-min, who refused to go to Saudi Arabia, feels great. When Son Heung-min decided to leave Tottenham, Saudi clubs were tempted again. In 2023, Saudi RT Hard offered Son Heung-min a four-year contract with an annual salary of 30 million euros (about 48.4 billion won). It was an all-time contract worth a total of 120 million euros (about 39.9 billion won). It was a figure incomparable to Tottenham's salary. However, Son Heung-min, who refused to go to Saudi Arabia at the time, chose to go to the U.S. again, not Saudi Arabia.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.