A swap deal between Al-Ittihad and Fenerbahce: Kante for En-Nesyri and the fate of Benzema
International press reports, most notably from the reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, have revealed the outlines of a resounding swap deal looming between Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad and Turkey’s Fenerbahce, as part of the active moves during the current winter transfer window to strengthen the ranks of both teams.
Romano, a specialist in player and coach transfer news, explained via his official account on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that negotiations between the two clubs' administrations have reached a very advanced stage. The deal revolves around two main points: the transfer of French star N'Golo Kanté to the Turkish club, and in return, the joining of Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri to the "Dean" squad.
Youssef En-Nesyri... the long-awaited attacking solution
Al-Ittihad's strong desire to sign Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri is a proactive and strategic move to compensate for the potential departure of French striker Karim Benzema. En-Nesyri is considered one of the most prominent strikers in the European and Arab world in recent years, boasting a record full of achievements. Most notably, he led Sevilla's attack to Europa League titles, in addition to his historic role with the Moroccan national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his decisive goals and spectacular leaps helped the Atlas Lions reach the semi-finals – an unprecedented achievement for Arab and African football.
Behind the scenes of Benzema's crisis and potential departure
Current indications point to a strained relationship between Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad's management, most notably the player's refusal to participate in the team's last two matches in the Saudi Professional League. According to reports, this discontent stems from the French star's dissatisfaction with the contract renewal offer, which limited him to image rights only, failing to meet all his financial and contractual demands. This has fueled speculation about his future.
Saudi clubs clash... Al-Hilal watches
In a related development, the Spanish newspaper AS dropped a bombshell, confirming that Benzema is very close to leaving Al-Ittihad after a two-and-a-half-year stint. The report didn't stop there; the newspaper also indicated that Al-Hilal, their arch-rival and direct competitor, are showing strong interest in acquiring the veteran striker's services.
Al-Hilal has already submitted a formal offer to Al-Ittihad, a move that could reshape the balance of power in the Saudi league, as negotiations between the parties involved are still ongoing. These developments come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is striving to enhance its global standing by retaining its star players and redistributing them to improve the competition's overall competitiveness.
