Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League side that made headlines last season by signing Cristiano Ronaldo, has been hit with a ban from FIFA. The ban prevents the club from registering new players after they failed to pay Leicester City the payments owed from the signing of Ahmed Musa in 2018.
The signing of Musa from Leicester was a significant move for Al-Nassr, with the club initially paying around £14m for the forward. Musa went on to play 60 times for the Saudi side, winning the Pro League. However, FIFA ruled that Al-Nassr had failed to pay Leicester €460k (£390k) plus interest in add-ons that were agreed upon in the 2018 transfer.
As a result, FIFA has imposed a ban on Al-Nassr from registering new players for three registration periods. This means that the club will not be able to bring in any new signings, including the likes of Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, who have been linked with the club.
Al-Nassr is hoping to resolve the issue promptly by making the payment to Leicester in the near future. The club has stated that the problem arose before the Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired Al-Nassr and that the new regime will work to resolve the matter.
The ban comes as a blow to Al-Nassr, who have been making significant moves in the transfer market recently. In addition to signing Cristiano Ronaldo last season, they have also added Marcelo Brozovic to their ranks. However, with the ban in place, they will not be able to bring in any more big names for the time being.
The signing of Ahmed Musa by Leicester City in 2018 was a significant move for the Premier League club. Musa joined Leicester from CSKA Moscow for £16.6m but struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. He scored just twice in 21 top-flight appearances before being loaned back to CSKA Moscow and eventually sold to Al-Nassr. Musa is currently playing for Turkish side Sivasspor.
The ban imposed on Al-Nassr serves as a reminder of the importance of fulfilling financial obligations in the world of football. FIFA has been cracking down on clubs that fail to pay transfer fees and other financial obligations, and Al-Nassr is the latest club to face consequences for their actions.
It remains to be seen how long the ban will last for Al-Nassr, as the club is hoping to resolve the issue by making the payment to Leicester City. If they are able to do so in the near future, they may be able to have the ban lifted sooner than expected.
In the meantime, Al-Nassr will have to make do with their current squad and will not be able to bring in any new players. This could potentially impact their performance in the upcoming season, as they will not have the opportunity to strengthen their team with new signings.
The ban also serves as a warning to other clubs, highlighting the importance of meeting financial obligations in a timely manner. Failure to do so can result in severe consequences, including bans on registering new players.
Overall, the ban imposed on Al-Nassr by FIFA is a significant blow for the Saudi Pro League side. It prevents them from bringing in new players and could potentially impact their performance in the upcoming season. The club is hoping to resolve the issue promptly by making the payment owed to Leicester City, but it remains to be seen how long the ban will last. In the meantime, Al-Nassr will have to make do with their current squad and focus on performing well with the players they have.