Saudi Pro League exodus continues as £34m star ‘tells team-mates he wants transfer return’

3 months ago 35

SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC is the latest big name who wants to call quits on his time in Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

The midfielder joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in a £34million transfer from Lazio.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic reportedly wants to return to Lazio[/caption]

He joined Al-Hilal from Lazio in a £34m transfer[/caption]

Milinkovic-Savic was one of a number of top European stars to head to the Middle East.

However, he has now joined a growing list of players who want to make their return to Europe.

According to Italian outlet, Il Messaggero, the 28-year-old had told his former Lazio team-mates that he would “like to return” to the club.

The report says the Serbian met the Lazio squad at Riyadh airport on Saturday and told friends there: “I miss you so much I would like to return to Lazio.”

Further reports claim Milinkovic-Savic does not feel at home in Saudi Arabia.

This comes despite him pocketing a salary of £20m.

Milinkovioc-Savic was previously a transfer target of Manchester United and Chelsea, while reports also linked him with moves to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

He is perhaps best known for his goalscoring exploits from midfield, which have continued in the SPL with eight goals and four assists in 18 league games.

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SunSport reported in October how a number of stars were unhappy after leaving European football, and now a mass of this talent wants out.

England international Jordan Henderson was one such star.

Henderson, 33, sealed a transfer to Ajax just six months after signing a bumper £700,000-a-week contract for Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq from Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Karim Benzema is said to have left Saudi chiefs furious after reportedly arriving 17 DAYS late for Al-Ittihad training.

Elsewhere, Jota has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League after he was not registered in his sides squad.

Former Reds striker Roberto Firmino is said to be frustrated at current club Al-Ahli but is tipped to join Al-Ettifaq rather than make a return to European football.

Former Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte did not mince his words in a recent interview speaking about life in capital city Riyadh.

The 29-year-old Al-Nassr defender told Spanish paper AS: “It’s a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it’s all adaptation.

“They haven’t made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players who are dissatisfied, but hey; We are working on it every day, negotiating so to speak, and to see if it improves a little because this is something new for them too, having European players who already have a long career.

“Maybe they are not used to this and have to adapt to a little more seriousness.”

Laporte added: “In every sense, but also on a day-to-day basis.

“Life for them… they take everything lightly. The ultimatum you can give them doesn’t matter to them.

“I mean, they’re really going about their business. You negotiate something and then they don’t accept it after you have signed it. They fight you.”