Moussa Diaby's crisis with Al-Ittihad: Expulsion and European offers threaten his stay

The Moussa Diaby crisis is escalating within the corridors of Al-Ittihad Club

As Al-Ittihad fans prepared to celebrate their French star Moussa Diaby's 50th appearance for the club, the joy turned to anger and frustration. This followed the player's behavior, which resulted in a red card during the crucial match against Al-Hazm in the 27th round of the 2025-2026 Saudi Professional League. This dismissal not only cost the team technically but also raised questions about the player's commitment and focus with the Jeddah-based club.

European offers and a hidden desire to leave

The repercussions of this action seem to have extended beyond the anger of the Al-Ittihad fans, reaching even the club's management. A near-certain conviction has formed within the Al-Ittihad administration that Moussa Diaby may not wish to complete his contract, which runs until June 2029. This suspicion is based on the lucrative European offers that poured in for the player during the last winter transfer window. The most prominent and serious of these offers came from Inter Milan, who expressed a clear desire to acquire the French winger on loan with an option to buy for €40 million. Despite the substantial offer and its technical merit, Al-Ittihad's management took a firm stance, refusing to part with the player at that time, hoping to benefit from his abilities in both domestic and continental competitions.

The historical context of Diaby's transfer and the Saudi League project

To return to the historical context of this event, it's important to remember that Al-Ittihad's signing of Moussa Diaby in the summer of 2014 from Aston Villa was not a mere passing transaction. It was part of a comprehensive strategy within the Saudi Professional League's recruitment project, which aims to attract some of the world's best footballers to enhance the league's technical and marketing value. Diaby, who had previously shone in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and in the English Premier League, was brought in to be a cornerstone of Al-Ittihad's project to return to winning ways. Therefore, any inconsistency in his performance or any desire to leave would be a blow to the club's long-term plans.

The expected impact of Diaby's departure locally and regionally

Domestically, the absence or departure of a player of Moussa Diaby's caliber would significantly weaken Al-Ittihad's attacking system. The team relies heavily on his speed and skill to penetrate opposing defenses in the Saudi Professional League, a fiercely competitive league between the top clubs and the rest of the league. Regionally, Al-Ittihad's ambitions to compete for the AFC Champions League title require a strong bench and foreign players who can make a difference in complex knockout matches.

The perspective of European clubs and their international influence

From an international perspective, Inter Milan's offer reflects a significant shift in how major European clubs view the Saudi league. The Saudi league is no longer merely a final destination for players; it has become a market for stars at the peak of their careers, prompting European clubs to try and bring them back with lucrative offers to break their contracts. This underscores the Saudi league's success in attracting quality players, but it also presents Saudi club management, such as Al-Ittihad, with considerable challenges in maintaining the stability of their teams, both technically and administratively, in the face of persistent European offers.