Al-Nassr is sanctioned by FIFA and prevented from registering players

Last Friday (19), FIFA imposed a sanction on Al Nassr and other clubs in Saudi Arabia, preventing them from registering new players. At first, the entity did not detail the reasons, but the next day, the newspaper ‘Al Riyadhiya’ revealed the origin of the problem: a financial question pending in the transfer of defender Aymeric Laporte.

According to the publication, Manchester City contacted FIFA after the Saudi club failed to pay, within the stipulated deadline (August 31, 2025), one of the installments of the deal for the Spanish defender. The debt would amount to 9 million euros (58 million R$). Laporte left English football in 2023, in a deal that cost 27.5 million euros (R$178), and currently plays for Athletic Bilbao.

The sanction, according to the same source, should be removed as soon as the amount is paid. The question is whether this will happen in time for the next transfer window. In Saudi Arabia, the press claims that Jorge Jesus intends to release Brazilian goalkeeper Bento, either on loan or outright sale, in order to create a foreign position outside the goal. The idea would be to rely on the Saudi Al Aqidi as the holder of the position.

State of mind before the moments 🧠⚽ pic.twitter.com/j28MUoUHll

– AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 20, 2025

Furthermore, journalist Nicolò Schira reported that Al Nassr had presented a renewal proposal to Marcelo Brozovic. Despite being a key player in midfield, the Croatian is considering the possibility of returning to European football and is yet to make a decision. The player’s contract ends at the end of the season. If Bento and Brozovic leave the club, Al Nassr will have to go to market, which will only be possible if FIFA lifts the sanction.

Follow our content on social media: Bluesky, Threads, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.