It’s a Whatsapp conversation that’s shaking up Newcastle. Amanda Staveley, a former director of the club at the time of its takeover by Saudi Arabia, saw one of her private conversations revealed by the Telegraph.
In the messages, the latter half-heartedly claims that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leader of Saudi Arabia, himself orchestrated the takeover of the English club. While the Premier League has always maintained that it had received legal assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would not control Newcastle United Football Club.
A situation that could put the club from the north of England in difficulty. On the revealed exchanges, the British businesswoman explained during the negotiations that “the crown prince was losing patience” and that the governor of the PIF “was trying to convince the crown prince not to withdraw”. The revelations are making headlines in England as Saudi Arabia’s interest in Newcastle appears to have waned since the collapse of the Saudi Pro League.
