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Honestly, I’m still buzzing after reading Maurizio Sarri’s latest interview and Sarri choice on the saudi league. You know the drill: Saudi Pro League comes knocking, waving fat stacks of cash, and countless managers would pack their bags in a heartbeat. But not Sarri. He laid it out plain and simple: ‘I would not accept even €18m per season to work in the Saudi Pro League.’ That line hit me like a thunderbolt—because, in today’s game, how often do we hear someone put passion above paychecks?
Why Sarri Turned Down €18m
The man was offered what most of us earn in a decade—I had negotiations with a Saudi club, where I would’ve earned in one month what I get at Lazio in a whole year, Sarri told Alfredo Pedullà and Sportitalia. And yet, there he was, shrugging it off with a grin, saying, ‘I always said that I would follow my heart, not money. I am not interested in how much they are offering. I have always been in football for passion; I would not want to start doing it for money now.’
Picture it: a coach with silver hair, a résumé boasting Empoli, Napoli, Chelsea, Juventus, and Lazio—and he’s got the kingdom of Saudi Arabia at his feet. The allure of €18m a season? For most, it’d be impossible to resist. But for Sarri, it’s just another number on a paycheck. He made it crystal: ‘Exactly what I did before, which is not go.’
Back at the Olimpico After Hard Times
The last time we saw Sarri on the touchline, he walked away from Lazio in March 2024. Not because the results weren’t there but because life threw him curveballs—a series of family tragedies that forced him to take a year out. Now, he’s back at the Stadio Olimpico, ready to pick up where he left off. In a world where money talks louder than screams from the stands, Sarri reminds us that football isn’t just a business—it’s an emotion.
The Saudi Cash Craze
Let’s be real: the Saudi Pro League has become the new hotspot for money-hungry players and coaches. We’ve seen Simone Inzaghi head to Al-Hilal, Stefano Pioli move to Al-Nassr, and rumours swirl about Luciano Spalletti being offered a cool €18 million per season to replace Pioli. But Sarri? ‘It’s just something that doesn’t provoke any emotional reaction in me; it doesn’t excite me. It would be difficult for me to work there in those conditions.’ Boom! Mic drop.
I mean, come on—if the champions go there, Sarri joked, ‘then it means I’ll just have to train the weaker ones here.’ It’s cheeky, but there’s a truth beneath the humour: he sees football as more than a salary bracket.
Passion vs. Paychecks
This isn’t a charity case. Sarri isn’t some idealistic dreamer who forgets that mortgages need to be paid. He spent years immersed in finance before dipping his toes—okay, making a full plunge—into coaching. He knows the value of money. But he also knows that without heart, without that fire in your belly, football is just…football. And Sarri makes it clear: ‘I am in football for passion, not money.’
When you listen to him, you get the sense that he’s speaking to every coach who’s ever felt torn between the next big gig and the club that stole their heart. He’s talking to every fan who’s ever stayed up until 3 AM to watch a midweek Europa League match. And he’s speaking to me because I love the game for all the drama, the tactical chess, and the way a perfectly weighted through-ball can make you scream at your TV.
What This Means for Lazio
So what does Sarri’s stance mean for us, the Lazio faithful? For starters, we’ve got our man. He came to Serie A with Empoli, made waves at Napoli, tasted Premier League glory with Chelsea, and even added Juventus to his journey. But his heart? It stayed rooted in Rome. When clubs all over the world were digging deep into their pockets to tempt him, he chose us.
This kind of loyalty is gold in football. Too often nowadays, managers bounce from job to job, chasing bigger paydays and brighter lights. Sarri’s refusal? It feels like a pledge: “I’m here for you, not the money.”
The Bigger Picture: Football’s Soul
Beyond Lazio, Sarri’s words strike at the heart of a bigger debate: What’s football’s soul? We’re bombarded with headlines about transfer fees, sponsorship deals, and wage bills that look like phone numbers. But Sarri’s blunt honesty reminds us: at its core, football is about the roar of the crowd, the last-gasp winner, the tactical tweaks at halftime, and yes, the passion.
He’s not blind to the sport’s commercial side—he refuses to let it define him. And if a coach with his pedigree can say no to millions, it gives every youth coach, every school teacher turned manager, and every Sunday league boss permission to do the same.
Emotional Reaction? None Needed
When pressed on how he felt about the Saudi offer, Sarri was as cool as a March breeze: ‘It’s just something that doesn’t provoke any emotional reaction in me; it doesn’t excite me.’ That’s a heavy statement. In a world where emotions sell tickets and sponsorships, Sarri goes against the grain. He doesn’t want to get swept up in the hype—I respect that.
He’s not mocking those who take the money; he’s just being true to himself. And if that means turning down a contract that would make most people’s jaws drop, then so be it. His decision sends a message that passion can, and sometimes should, take precedence over profit.
Looking Ahead: Can Passion Win?
We all know that football’s future will be shaped by mega-deals and big investments. The Saudi Professional League will continue to expand its reach. European clubs will continue to scramble for the next lucrative TV deal. But Sarri? He’s a reminder that not everyone will fall. Passion isn’t for sale, he seems to say, and that’s a powerful thing.
So next time you’re feeling disillusioned—wondering if football’s lost its soul—remember Sarri’s stand. It’s okay to cheer for the underdog, to stay loyal to your club, and to believe that love of the game matters more than love of money.
Final Whistle On Sarri Choice
Maurizio Sarri’s refusal to chase Saudi Pro League cash isn’t just a headline—it’s a creed. ‘I am in football for passion, not money.’ Keep that in your memory bank. It’s what makes us stick around when our team hits a rough patch. It’s why we celebrate the beautiful moments even more. And it’s why football will always be about more than just the numbers on someone’s bank statement.
