Raheem Sterling reportedly snubbed a staggering offer from Saudi Arabia last summer to remain at Chelsea.
The England winger, 29, could have become one of the Pro League’s three highest earners behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sterling is Chelsea’s highest earner and reportedly earns £300,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo makes £214million per year at Al-Nassr, of which £163m is for actually playing and £49m from off-field ventures such as promoting the country.
The Daily Telegraph report that Sterling offer from Saudi Arabia came at the end of last season but he had no interest in leaving Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to leave Chelsea for Saudi Arabia
The proposed deal would reportedly have put Sterling in the top bracket of Saudi earners behind Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr
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Sterling signed a five-year contract when he joined Chelsea from Manchester City in a £47.5million deal in July 2022.
In a turbulent first season, which saw managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter sacked by owner Todd Boehly, Sterling scored nine goals and contributed four assists.
This season, the winger already has seven goals and eight assists but that hasn’t prevented him being jeered by some Chelsea supporters.
It emerged in the same Telegraph article that Boehly reportedly singled out Sterling for a dressing down following the Blues’ 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton last April.
Brighton came from behind to win at Stamford Bridge – one of many low points as Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League – and the American came to see the players in the dressing room post-match.
Boehly apparently gave Sterling a personal pep talk, rather than addressing the whole squad. He reminded Sterling he is a world class player and demanded more in terms of performance and leadership.
Todd Boehly reportedly singled out Raheem Sterling for a dressing down last season
The rant at Sterling came after Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at home to Brighton last April
Sterling was closest to the dressing room door, which may explain why he was spoken to first, but it also could have been interpreted as a major statement from Boehly as the England winger was his first major signing after buying the club.
Sterling is understood to have taken the criticism well, with Boehly then turning his attention to the rest of the group.