Alioski’s deal at Al Hilal was ‘impossible’ for Leeds United to match
It was “impossible” for Leeds United to match the deal Ezgjan Alioski has earned at Al Ahli, according to Claudio Mauri.
Alioski, 29, left Elland Road at the end of last season when his contract expired and managing director Angus Kinnear has recently told the Square Ball podcast that the Whites offered the North Macedonia international a “very healthy extension” before he opted to head elsewhere.
According to Diario La Nación journalist Mauri, from Argentina, Leeds had no chance of matching the deal that was on offer for Alioski from Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli, who also have ex-Tottenham midfielder Paulinho on their books.
One final big contract for Gjanni
Usually when you see a player move clubs for a better deal, he gets bad press for chasing the money.
Look at Matheus Pereira, for example. He’s left West Brom at the age of 25 despite proving he can be a very capable attacker in the Premier League.
He’s joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where he’s no doubt earning a king’s ransom.
Pereira is young, has his best years ahead of him and only just started to impress in English football whereas Alioski had been at Leeds for several years, will turn 30 in February and wasn’t likely to be a starter for Marcelo Bielsa next season.
If Alioski stayed, he would have been a bit-part player and on a wage that is unlikely to be anywhere near what he’s earning at Al Ahli.
We really don’t blame him for going.
It is a shame that he’s gone because we would have loved for Gjanni to stay but when you think about all the things considered, this is a move that makes a lot of sense and we really wish the crazy North Macedonian all the best in the Middle East.
In other Leeds United news, a pundit expects this 22-year-old to quit Elland Road this summer as he trains alone.