Saudi Arabian striker to spend 3 weeks with Manchester United

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi will train with Manchester United for three weeks as part of a commercial agreement between the club and sporting authorities in Saudi Arabia.

The 31-year-old has scored 26 times in 33 caps for his country and is looking to maintain his fitness ahead of Saudi Arabia's fifth World Cup campaign this summer. Al-Sahlawi's club, Al-Nassr, plays its final match of the Saudi Professional League season against Al-Quadisiya on April 12.

"It was agreed with Manchester United for Mohammed Al-Sahlawi to join for a training programme for three weeks, may God benefit him," Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) of Saudi Arabia, wrote on Twitter, as reported by PA Sport.

Al-Sahlawi's arrangement is similar to at least nine loan deals that have occurred across Spain's top three tiers in recent months. The GSA and Saudi Arabian Football Federation have been attempting to find experience for the country's players outside its domestic leagues. La Liga, keen to boost its appeal in the Middle East, was happy to comply with Saudi wishes.

"This new business model prioritises the economic aspect over the sporting one, sacrificing the essence of this sport and favouring business over the promotion and development of our footballers," the Spanish players' union complained about the Saudi link in a statement relayed by the Guardian's John Duerden.

Now sporting figures in Saudi Arabia have brokered a deal which sees one of the national team's leading figures training at United's Carrington base.

PA Sport explains the partnership between United and the GSA is intended to "help develop the Saudi football industry, as part of its 2030 Vision - the plan to diversify the Saudi economy and to develop its public sectors announced in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman."