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Despite Being Banned by FIFA, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Set to Poach Aston Villa’s $56 Million-Rated Transfer Target

Published 07/17/2023, 4:31 AM EDT

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Al Nassr seems determined to make an overhaul to their squad, after missing out on the Saudi Pro League title narrowly. Having been trophyless last season, Al-Alami wants to build a strong roster around Cristiano Ronaldo, and now they are closing on another midfield target despite a provisional ban from FIFA.

FIFA banned the Saudi club recently taken over by PIF (75% stakes). The ban was a result of the club failing to pay debts to Leicester City. FIFA would lift the ban once Al Nassr pays $514,000 debts to the English side for the transfer of Ahmed Musa in 2018. But it hasn’t unfazed the club from making a massive offer for the Bundesliga star. 

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon see a new teammate

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The Bayern Leverkusen player, Moussa Diaby, is attracting interest from a host of clubs. The $56 million rated star is on the transfer list of Aston Villa and Al Nassr. The Premier League club has already made an offer for Diaby, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. However, Leverkusen immediately rejected Villa’s offer of around $40 million. The reports further claim that Diaby is open to a Villa move and has already said ‘Yes’ to the Premier League club.

As per Daily Mail, Al Nassr wants to include a 24-year-old forward in their ranks to strengthen their attack, which already has Cristiano Ronaldo and Anderson Talisca. The former PSG attacker is a signing for the future, and Al-Alami is ready to counter the Villa offer. Meanwhile, Leverkusen seems to take advantage of the season and pocket as much as they could. They currently value the player at $56 million, and Al Nassr has offered around $48 million according to Ben Jacobs. It remains to be seen how things pan out. 

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It will be some transfer drama. Leverkusen knows the player wants England to move, but Al Nassr’s offer is more than Aston Villa’s. It will be interesting to see how Al Nassr convinces the player. Apart from salary, a viable project would be crucial in Diaby getting convinced to play in Rosh Saudi League. We have seen 24-year-old Celtic star Jota moving to Saudi champions Al Ittihad. 

The Saudi Pro League champions also signed Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante. Now it’s up to Al Nassr to upgrade its squad after landing Marcelo Brozovic in midfield. Despite all their efforts, Al-Alami has made only one statement signing in the form of Brozovic, compared to their rivals. They will push for their targets with the start of the season approaching. 

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WATCH THIS STORY: Ten Times Cristiano Ronaldo Four Goals in a Game

Let us know your thoughts on the Al Nassr approach to the transfer market.

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Written by:

Nikhil Nibe

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Nikhil is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports, having written over 450 articles that showcase his expertise and love for the beautiful game. With a passion for soccer that spans over two decades, Nikhil is well-versed in covering core sports articles. As a die-hard fan of Real Madrid, Nikhil understands the importance of team spirit and the unwavering support of fans in changing the course of a game.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra