In a twist that feels straight out of a late-night comedy sketch, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has reportedly lost a staggering £10 million after investing in a “seaport” project in Serbia — a country that, as the internet was quick to point out, has no coastline.
According to sources close to Barkley, the NFL star was approached with what was pitched as a “highly lucrative, low-risk infrastructure investment” promising massive returns from international trade. The project promised to turn Serbia into a “major shipping hub for Europe.” The problem? Serbia is completely landlocked, bordered by countries like Hungary, Romania, and Bosnia — none of which have given Barkley access to the ocean.
Social media immediately exploded with memes, maps, and jokes. One fan tweeted, “Bro just paid £10M to build the world’s first imaginary port.” Another posted a screenshot of Google Maps with the caption: “Find the sea, Saquon. I’ll wait.”
Financial analysts have called this one of the most bizarre celebrity investments in recent memory, comparing it to “buying beachfront property in the Sahara.” Some NFL teammates have reportedly been teasing Barkley relentlessly in the locker room, with one insider claiming that players are now calling him “Captain Landlocked.”
While Barkley has yet to issue a full public statement, he was spotted leaving the Giants’ facility looking visibly frustrated but managing a smile when asked about the fiasco. “Hey, at least I learned some geography today,” he reportedly quipped.
This isn’t the first time athletes have been caught in strange investments, but it might be the funniest. Fans have suggested turning the empty “port” area into a stadium, a theme park, or even a Barkley Museum to “at least get something out of it.”
For now, the £10M loss is a painful reminder that even superstar athletes with millions of dollars and access to advisors can sometimes forget to check a map.