Mark Ogden explains why he thinks the attraction of the Saudi Pro League will only
increase in years to come. 🧲 (2:07)
Why the Saudi Pro League will only continue to grow
(2:07)
Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, are banned from 🧲 registering
new players until they settle a debt with Leicester City, FIFA said on Thursday.
Al
Nassr were ordered to pay 🧲 Leicester €460,000 ($513,000) plus annual interest of 5% in
an October 2024 ruling by a FIFA-appointed judge at its players' 🧲 status committee.
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deals, players linked
Leicester filed the complaint 🧲 in April 2024 because of unpaid
additional clauses due from the €18m ($20m) sale of Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa in
🧲 2024.
Al Nassr -- which was taken under majority ownership last month by theR$700
billion sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund -- 🧲 can still sign new players though
not register them to play.
"The club Al Nassr is currently prevented from registering
new 🧲 players due to outstanding debts," FIFA said Thursday. "The relevant bans will be
lifted immediately upon the settlement of the 🧲 debts being confirmed by the creditors
concerned."
Al Nassr's signing of Ronaldo as a free agent in January sparked an
unprecedented 🧲 spree of spending by clubs in the Saudi Pro League, with four now
majority-owned by PIF. The fund is chaired 🧲 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin
Salman.
Al Nassr signed Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic this month from Inter Milan
in a 🧲 transfer reportedly valued at €18m ($20m).
Al Nassr are in Portugal on a preseason
training camp. On Aug. 22, they have 🧲 a qualifying playoff in the Asian Champions
League. Al Nassr will host Shabab Al Ahli of United Arab Emirates or 🧲 Jordan's Al
Wehdat.
Musa left Riyadh-based Al Nassr in 2024 and played last season with Sivasspor
in Turkey.
