NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo offered himself to Al-Hilal after hearing the record-breaking offer by the Saudi club to Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was put up for sale by PSG after the superstar decided not to renew his current deal, which ends in 2024. The transfer listing caught the attention of many, and the Saudi Pro League Club, Al-Hilal, made a record-breaking offer to PSG and Mbappe.
As per reports, Al-Hilal offered PSG a fee of $332 million, which would be a new record, while also offering $775 million to Mbappe for a single season in the Saudi Pro League.
The massive offer even caught the attention of athletes beyond the sport of soccer, including NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who jokingly tweeted, “Al Hilal you can take me. I look like Kylian Mbappe.” The French superstar saw the response and tweeted the Milwaukee star with a response:
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/hKhqYXC7tH
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 24, 2023
Mbappe and Giannis have been friends for a while, and they have been seen together multiple times since 2020. Giannis visited Paris for an NBA match in 2020, and the PSG squad was present at the game to see the superstar perform. The duo was also seen sharing some mutual love as they exchanged signed shoes after an NBA exhibition game in 2022.
🆒⚽️🏀 #PSGxJordan
Nos Parisiens présents au match #NBAParis @Hornets 🆚 @Bucks 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ayga5okmPD
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) January 24, 2020
The banter between the stars over the Saudi move caught a lot of engagement, as Mbappe’s quote tweet has been liked by more than 1 million people, and the original tweet from Giannis also received more than 700k likes.
Kylian Mbappe vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo: Net worth and salary comparison
Both Kylian Mbappe and Giannis Antetokounmpo are top athletes in their respective sports and, therefore, command a high salary package at their current teams.
In March 2023, the French newspaper L’Équipe released the ranking of Ligue 1 salaries, and it was disclosed that Mbappe earns around $6.7 million per month.
💰 No surprises in L’Equipe’s top-salary list… PSG definitely need to think about what they’re doing and start cutting costs down… pic.twitter.com/wAeoEDoRKB
— PSG Post 🗼 (@PSGPost) March 30, 2023
In comparison, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in December 2020, for $228 million, with an average monthly salary of $3.75 million.
As of the latest reports, Kylian Mbappe’s net worth in 2023 is estimated to be around $180 million. This net worth is amassed from his lucrative contract with PSG and endorsements with brands like Nike and Hublot. In 2023, Giannis’ net worth is estimated to be between $70 to $110 million, with several reports providing different figures.
Both athletes are still in their prime, and their respective net worth will likely continue to increase. Giannis’ current deal expires in 2025, while Kylian Mbappe is set to move this summer, which would result in a massive increase in his wages.
LeBron James wants the Saudi Move after hearing the offer for Kylian Mbappe
Giannis is not the only athlete interested in Saudi Arabia after hearing about the Al-Hilal offer. NBA legend LeBron James also shared his opinion on Twitter after learning about the reports regarding the offer.
Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1 year deal! ✌🏾🤷🏾♂️😁 pic.twitter.com/IX0VSMZYNb
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 25, 2023
LeBron shared a scene from the iconic movie “Forrest Gump” where Tom Hanks can be seen running toward something. LeBron wrote, “Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1-year deal!”
The La Lakers superstar also tagged his business partners, Rich Paul, and Maverick Carter, echoing the same message that Giannis joked about in his tweet.
Saudi Arabia has already made its mark in established sports such as soccer and golf. It may be time for them to make their move toward the NBA, especially seeing such responses from established stars like Giannis and LeBron.