Fulham manager Marco Silva stated on Sunday that he is “fully committed” to the club despite declining a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.
Reports in Britain revealed that the Portuguese manager had been presented with a two-year contract worth £40 million (equivalent to 51 million USD) as part of Saudi’s Pro League ongoing effort to attract top talent.
However, ahead of Fulham’s pre-season friendly with Brentford in Philadelphia on Sunday, Silva confirmed his decision to remain with the west London Premier League club.
Silva told NBC Sports, “My commitment to this club has been 100 percent since the first day I signed, and it will continue this way.”
He further added, “It was a decision that I made. I spoke with the people in the club, and like I was before last season and two seasons ago, I’m fully committed to the club and will continue this way.”
The 46-year-old Silva joined Fulham in 2021, leading the team to promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in his first season and securing a 10th-place finish in the top-flight last term.
Al-Ahli has recently made significant signings, including Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City, Roberto Firmino from Liverpool, and Edouard Mendy from Chelsea, as part of the Pro League’s broader hiring spree backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
In addition to Silva’s decision to stay, other prominent football stars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and French World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, have also moved to Saudi Arabian clubs to join the Pro League.
Meanwhile, Silva expressed satisfaction after Fulham’s pre-season game against Brentford, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Fulham in the Premier League Summer Series. The goals were scored by Harry Wilson, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and Carlos Vinicius, while Yoane Wissa and Kristoffer Ajer scored for Brentford.