Ex-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri offers BIZARRE response to Saudi Arabia links

It has been reported that Maurizio Sarri smokes 4 packs, 15 in each pack, every day.

Ex-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri offers BIZARRE response to Saudi Arabia links

It has been reported that Maurizio Sarri smokes 60 cigarettes in a day. (Image via Daily Mail)

Maurizio Sarri has reached new heights in his career in the past few years, winning the 2018-19 Europa League with Chelsea and the Serie A with Juventus. He right now manages Lazio, which he led to 2nd in the 2022/23 season but are now 10th. It is very well known how much he loves smoking, so when asked about his interest in going to Saudi Arabia, he had to know if smoking was legal. 

As Lazio prepared to face table bottom Salernitana, Sarri was asked if he would go to manage a team in Saudi Arabia. He asked the journalist if it’s legal to smoke in the Middle-Eastern country and when he found out it was, all he had to say was: 

Ok, then we’ll see. 
YouTube video

It has been well-documented how much the ex-Chelsea boss likes smoking. His former club, Napoli, had built a smoking area just for the manager and RB Leipzig built a designated smoking booth in the away dressing room. Whenever his team travels to a smoke-free stadium, he has been spotted chewing a cigarette butt. 

FS Video

How the riches have brought change in the Saudi Arabia football scene?

Since January 2023, the Saudi Pro League has seen an influx of football superstars playing in their clubs. It started with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was frozen out of Manchester United, joining Al-Nassr. In the 2023 Summer Transfer window, Saudi Arabian clubs got big names like Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Neymar Jr, Ruben Neves, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, and so on.

Mohammed bin Salman
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman controls the Public Investment Fund (Image via Asharq Al-Awsat)

This all became possible after the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, took a majority stake in four clubs in the Saudi Pro League. Riyadh-based Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, along with Jeddah-based Al Ittihad and Al Ahli have been taken over by the PIF, which is backed by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. 

According to state-run news outlets, this move is done to ensure the sport of football grows in the country. They believe by investing in these clubs, they will attract more sponsors and investments. The PIF also has a majority stake in the English Club, Newcastle United Football Club. 

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