Raheem Sterling reportedly rejected a staggering offer from Saudi Arabia before joining Arsenal on loan.
Sterling completed his move to the Emirates at the end of an extraordinary deadline day after being banished to Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ by Enzo Maresca earlier this month.
The England winger was told in no uncertain terms by Maresca that he was not part of his plans, and would not get any minutes with the Blues if he stayed beyond the summer window, leaving Sterling looking for a new club.
According to The Mirror, he was offered an escape route by an unnamed Saudi club that would have seen him earn £650,000-a-week.
However, he turned down their approach, which was made last week, shortly after Maresca revealed that Sterling would not be involved in his squad for the season.
Raheem Sterling completed a loan move to Arsenal on deadline day
He got his move away from Chelsea after being frozen out by Enzo Maresca
Sterling had the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, but rejected their staggering offer and is now reunited with Mikel Arteta after working with him at Man City
Sterling’s Chelsea contract sees him earn £300,000-a-week, meaning he’d have more than doubled his salary if he had accepted a move to the Middle East.
But he opted against a Saudi switch to continue his career in England.
From that moment, talks with Arsenal accelerated before they finally agreed terms with Chelsea and Sterling on Friday night.
Sterling will now strengthen Arsenal’s wide options for this season, and is reunited with Mikel Arteta, having worked with him at Manchester City when the Gunners boss was Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
After a difficult two years at Stamford Bridge, Sterling has been handed a fresh start and will aim to force his way into Arteta’s starting XI.
This will be no easy task, as the Spaniard already has Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard at his disposal.
But Sterling has backed himself, and the four-time Premier League winner is keen to show he still has plenty left to offer after falling out of favour at Chelsea.
