Serbian Lazio international midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has asked his management for an exit voucher to join Saudi club Al-Hilal, Italian team owner Claudio Lotito said on Monday.
In an interview with online media Tag24, Lotito said that Milinkovic-Savic, 28, had begged him to let him “get a change of scenery” after eight years in Rome. Such a transfer could allow him to earn 60 million euros net over three seasons in Saudi Arabia.
Italian media report that Al-Hilal have agreed to pay 40 million euros for the Serbian midfielder, one year from the end of his contract with Lazio.
The Laziale president said Lazio had received an offer ‘just under 50 million euros’.
“I’ve done my best to keep him, but when he asks to leave for personal reasons, what can I do about it? commented Lotito. We were ready to extend his contract with a salary increase.
The player was one of the main architects of the 2nd place in Serie A qualifying for the Champions League won by Lazio Maurizio Sarri at the end of the past season.
A fan-favorite player, Milinkovic-Savic has scored 69 goals in 341 appearances since joining Lazio for €10m in 2015. He won the 2019 Italian Cup and two Italian Super Cups (2017 and 2019).
Should he leave for Al-Hilal, the player would join a number of other familiar faces lured by the prospect of sky-high salaries since the Saudi Pro League began attracting big names from major European leagues.
Already the champion club of Saudi Arabia has enlisted the Frenchmen Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté who, like Cristiano Ronaldo who arrived at Al-Nassr in January, gave in to the Saudi sirens.
Last week, former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino of Brazil became the latest to join the monarchy by signing for Al-Ahli, while former Reds captain Steven Gerrard became manager of Al-Ettifaq.