LONDON, July 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants to be taken seriously as a soccer force. Hence state-backed club Al Hilal’s approach for French star Kylian Mbappé. Yet a possible outlay of 1 billion euros, including compensation, takes the country’s sporting tactics to surreal new heights.
At first glance, a widely reported 300 million euro price tag is expensive but not necessarily egregious for Mbappé, who currently plies his trade for Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain. Such a transfer fee would imply that the 24-year-old is about three times as valuable as recent Arsenal recruit Declan Rice.
That multiple is arguably defensible for a player who may be the world’s best. Mbappé would no doubt stimulate international interest in the little-followed Saudi Pro League, whose main current draw is a smattering of ageing former stars. If so, it might avoid…
