Ex-striker seven times richer than Ronaldo considers move for former club

Former France international Louis Saha has expressed surprise over the Friedkin Group's intention to sell Everton, less than two years after completing their takeover. Saha, who spent three and a half seasons with the Toffees, believes the Goodison Park outfit represents a lucrative opportunity for prospective investors.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the 48-year-old former striker—who founded AxisStars, a platform connecting sports stars and celebrities with verified partners, and is now valued at over €5.1 billion—commented on the Merseyside club's current predicament.

"I am extremely surprised that Everton's owners want to sell the club. I thought the timing was positive because, since David Moyes arrived, they have had the chance to play in a beautiful stadium," the former forward said. "There was a great vision and it felt like the investment would follow, but that hasn't happened. David Moyes was left with very few options in the transfer market; he manages well with a thin squad, but he needs more depth in key positions. I don't think this instability will derail performances on the pitch, but I am genuinely surprised by the owners—it is not a good sign."

Saha, who previously shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, went on to highlight Everton's immense commercial and sporting upside.

"Everton is a huge investment opportunity. They have a great new stadium, decades of unbroken Premier League history, and remain a very stable institution. There is so much value when you have a fanbase of this magnitude and a historic rivalry that always commands global attention. There is definitely plenty to consider from an investment standpoint. The trajectory of any Premier League club offers massive upside. But I still question the reasons behind this move; when you are in such a strong position, the timing feels very strange."

The Parisian striker arrived at Everton in 2008 under David Moyes during the manager's first spell in charge. Saha went on to score 35 goals in 115 appearances for the Toffees, featuring in sides that secured fifth, eighth, and seventh-place Premier League finishes over three full seasons before departing for Tottenham midway through the 2011/12 campaign.