“Didn’t Come to Saudi Arabia to Retire” -Months After Chelsea Exit, Edouard Mendy Says He Discussed $20M Move With Sadio Mane & Kalidou Koulibaly

Edouard Mendy was a part of last year’s English Premier League exodus to the Saudi Pro League. The former Chelsea goalkeeper, who played a pivotal role in their 2021 UCL triumph, was still at the peak of his powers while making the move. There were claims that the transfer was motivated by money and non-sporting reasons. However, the Al Ahli shot-stopper recently revealed that he is still as motivated as ever while making a surprising claim on the level of the league.

The goalie, along with his Senegalese teammates, Kalidou Koulibaly & Sadio Mane, made the switch in 2023. The transfer of Koulibaly in particular was quite surprising, considering he arrived in Chelsea just a year prior.

‘Leader’ Mendy reveals his candid chat with Mane and Koulibaly, claiming that ‘he wasn’t bad’

It seems the Al Ahli goalkeeper had previously discussed the transfer to the Middle East with his compatriots. In a recent interview, he said, ” I spoke with Koulibaly and Mané about the fact that we can’t be bad because we’re leaders and we have to play the best way we can.” It seems the trio wants to lead from the front and be an example to the youngsters. Edouard Mendy then clarified his $20 million+ transfer was not a retirement plan. He explained, “We didn’t come to Saudi Arabia to retire, as some people say, because the level of the league is high.”

His claim regarding the league’s quality might come across as surprising. However, the signing of soccer superstars like Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo has contributed to the widespread development of the league. CR7 had once claimed the Saudi Pro League could be one of the top 5 leagues in the world! No wonder seasoned pros like Edouard Mendy find it challenging there.

With Al Ahli currently in third place and having conceded just 19 league goals, Edouard Mendy is enjoying life in Saudi Arabia. Yet, there was a lot of confusion at Chelsea when the Senegalese goalkeeper was put up for sale.

What went wrong with Edouard Mendy at Chelsea?

Edouard Mendy’s main competition at Chelsea was Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard signed for over $80 million and is the most expensive goalkeeper. Yet, the move did not pay off and he was later replaced by Mendy, who led Chelsea to their 2nd UCL title. However, he was sold ahead of Kepa and this decision led to fans scratching their heads.

Read More: Chelsea Superstar Edouard Mendy Reveals the Real Reason Behind Staying Away From the FIFA Franchise

The dagger in the heart of Mendy’s Chelsea career was the Spaniard’s wages. Kepa earned significantly more and it was harder for other clubs to sign him. Moreover, Chelsea wanted a ball-playing goalkeeper and Mendy fell more into the traditional style of shot-stoppers. Hence, he joined Al Ahli in June 2023. Unexpectedly, Kepa was loaned to Real Madrid a few weeks later.

What is your opinion of Edouard Mendy’s statements? Tell us in the comments below.

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