In a real summer debauchery of Saudi transactions, Fifa threw a chill this week by directly sanctioning the Al-Nassr club.
If there is one league that drives the summer transfer window, it is the Saudi elite. Many football stars have taken the plunge recently, starting with the reigning Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema. With a real breath-taking effect for footballers who no longer hesitate to sacrifice the glory inherent in major European competitions to embrace the petrodollars of the Saudi kingdom.
Here there is no financial fair play, many clubs being directly supported by the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia and its 700 billion euros. So we can be surprised to see the tap suddenly cut off, on the orders of Fifa. This is the case for Cristiano Ronaldo’s employer, Al-Nassr, based in Riyadh and banned from recruitment until further notice. A boon perhaps for RC Lens, approached by the latter club for Seko Fofana.
A ridiculous debt to honor
” The Al-Nassr club is currently banned from registering new players due to heavy debts. This prohibition will be lifted as soon as the settlement of the debt has been confirmed by the creditor. “, trumpeted the parent company of world football. The debt in question appears derisory in view of Al-Nassr’s means: 500,000 euros – a bonus due to Leicester in accordance with the deal made with the Foxes in 2018 for the transfer of Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa.
