Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie finds himself at a crossroads in his football career. Despite his initial reluctance to leave Barcelona’s Camp Nou, Kessie is now considering his options due to a tempting offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
The Middle Eastern team has made a significant move, shifting their focus from the English Premier League to Paris, where they presented Marco Verratti with a staggering offer of 50 million euros per season. Meanwhile, Al Ahly, another Saudi club, is also preparing a response, albeit a more modest one.
Kessie’s uncertain future at Barcelona stems from the recent arrival of Ilkay Gundogan, which pushed him down the pecking order. The club has informed him that he will now be the fifth choice midfielder, as he finds himself competing with Gundogan, Pedri, Gavi, and Frankie De Jong.
Moreover, with another potential signing on the horizon to fill in for the departing Sergio Busquets, Kessie’s chances of securing regular playing time become even slimmer.
However, the Ivorian international is not one to back down easily and is determined to fight for his place in the team.
In April of the previous year, Kessie committed to a four-season contract with Barcelona, earning a salary of 6.5 million euros, which can reach up to 7 million euros with achievable bonuses. This explains why Kessie’s representatives have vehemently denied media reports suggesting his departure from Camp Nou on two occasions already.
Initially, Barcelona seemed to grasp Kessie’s commitment and had abandoned the idea of selling him to improve their financial situation. However, the offer from Al Hilal in the Middle East might just provide the solution the Catalan club needs.
Al Hilal is prepared to offer Kessie twice his current salary, a staggering 15 million euros, to entice him to join their ranks in Saudi Arabia. The question remains: will this offer be enough to convince Kessie to change his mind and bid farewell to Barcelona? Only time will tell.
If Al Ahly wants to compete, they will likely need to sweeten the deal further by adding an extra 30 million euros, ensuring that Barcelona receives a satisfactory sum.