The Saudi Al Hilal has given up on Raphinha. After months of pursuing the Brazilian with multimillion-pound offers to both him and Barcelona, the Saudi Arabian club has decided to change strategy and target another top-level European prospect: Crysencio Summerville, Dutch winger at West Ham, whom it intends to seduce with €80 million.

Goodbye Raphinha: the Brazilian prevails

Al Hilal's obsession with bringing Raphinha to Saudi football has come to an end. Over two consecutive summers, the Saudi entity prepared astronomical proposals for both the Barcelona winger and FC Barcelona itself, with salaries that would have multiplied several times what he earns in Europe. But the Brazilian player always had his priority clear: to continue competing at European elite level and maintain his competitive standard in the best leagues.

Raphinha's refusal to leave Barcelona—where he remains a fundamental asset—has made clear that not all oil millions are enough to convince the best footballers. The winger has prioritised his career in elite football over any financial benefit, a message that has resonated loudly with Saudi administrators.

Enter Summerville: €80 million on the offensive

With Raphinha no longer on the horizon, Al Hilal has acted swiftly. The sporting directorate, in coordination with manager Inzaghi, has set its sights on Summerville, Dutch left winger who has just shone at the World Cup with two goals for the Netherlands. According to mundodeportivo.com, the Saudi club has launched an €80 million offer to West Ham, information advanced by The Athletic and Sky Sports.

The move comes at a critical moment. Summerville was in full negotiations with Roma, with an operation hovering around €50 million. West Ham's relegation to the Championship had accelerated proceedings, and the Dutch footballer was pressing to seal a deal with the Roman side. However, Al Hilal's arrival with a cheque €30 million higher considerably complicates matters.

The Saudi temptation: €15 million net salary

But Al Hilal is not only appealing to the power of its financial offer in the form of a transfer fee. The club has also made a move in direct negotiations: it has offered the player €15 million net per year to secure the proposal. A figure that would multiply several times what he can earn in Europe and inevitably recalls the strategy employed with Raphinha.

This type of operation is increasingly common in Saudi Arabia, where petrodollars are used to poach stars from European football. However, as the Raphinha case demonstrates, it does not always work.

Will history repeat itself with Summerville?

The big question is whether Summerville will follow the same path as Raphinha. The Dutch winger has opportunities in Europe: Roma offers him Serie A football, and now West Ham could attempt to retain him or negotiate better terms. For now, his position regarding the Saudi offer has not emerged, although the magnitude of the proposal is unlikely to leave him unmoved.

What is clear is that Al Hilal, armed with unlimited financial resources, will continue to be a constant threat to Europe's best talents. The question is whether the Raphinha lesson—that not everything can be bought with money—will eventually sink in with footballers.