In a move reflecting the great ambitions of the Saudi Al-Qadisiyah club to compete for titles, international press reports revealed that the club's management has reached a final agreement to sign Moroccan left-back Sofiane El Karouani, who plays for the Dutch club Utrecht.

The reliable journalist in the transfer market, Santi Ona, confirmed that the negotiations between the two parties were successful, as all personal and financial terms were agreed upon, and the deal will be officially completed and its procedures finalized during the upcoming summer transfer window, making the Croatian the first pillar of "Beni Cadiz" for the new sports season.

Impressive statistics for Al-Kroani in the Dutch league

Al-Qadisiyah's interest in the 25-year-old Moroccan player stems from his impressive performances in the Dutch leagues. According to recent reports, Al-Krouani had an exceptional season with Utrecht, participating in 34 matches across all competitions, scoring 3 goals, and providing an astonishing 15 assists, making him one of his team's most prominent attacking defenders.

The new Al-Qadisiyah project and the challenge of the giants

This deal comes amidst the historic transformation Al-Qadisiyah Club has undergone since its acquisition by Saudi Aramco, as part of the sports club privatization project. The Al-Qadisiyah management aims to build an invincible team capable of challenging the top four clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli) in the Saudi Professional League. The club has previously made high-profile signings of international stars, and the acquisition of the Croatian player is a continuation of this strategy, which aims to strengthen key positions with players possessing European experience and high technical ability.

Moroccan presence in the Saudi League

With his anticipated arrival, Soufiane El Karouani will join a constellation of Moroccan stars who have shone in Saudi Arabian football, such as Yassine Bounou, Abderrazak Hamdallah, and Munir Mohamedi. This trend reflects the confidence Saudi clubs have in the Moroccan player, who is known for his tactical discipline and high skill level. El Karouani is expected to add this quality to Al-Qadisiyah's left flank, thus enhancing the team's chances of competing for domestic and continental titles in the future.

Sources within Al-Qadisiyah Club have announced that the club's management has finalized the signing of solid defender Waleed Al-Ahmad from Al-Taawoun Club, as part of the club's efforts to strengthen its squad during the current winter transfer window. All financial and contractual terms have been agreed upon between the two parties, officially making the player an Al-Qadisiyah player after intensive negotiations over the past few hours.

According to sources at Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Waleed Al-Ahmad's transfer came after Al-Qadisiyah's management paid the required transfer fee to Al-Taawoun, paving the way for the successful completion of the deal. Al-Midan had previously exclusively published details of the behind-the-scenes negotiations, confirming the Eastern Province club's desire to acquire the player to bolster their defense.

The ambitious Qadisiyah project and the return of "Banu Qadis"

This deal comes amidst a major transformation underway at Al-Qadisiyah Club, particularly following its acquisition by Saudi Aramco as part of the investment and privatization project for sports clubs launched by the Saudi Crown Prince. This transformation has granted the club immense financial and administrative strength, enabling it to attract prominent names and outstanding local talents, with the aim of restoring the "Knight of the East" to its rightful place among the elite of the Saudi Professional League and to compete strongly for local and continental titles in the near future.

The importance of the deal, both technically and tactically

Waleed Al-Ahmad is considered one of the most prominent defenders to have emerged in the Saudi League in recent seasons with Al-Taawoun. He is distinguished by his physical strength and ability to build play from the back, qualities sought by Al-Qadisiyah's coaching staff. This move is a masterstroke by Al-Qadisiyah's management, as the benefit is not limited to strengthening the team, but also extends to narrowing the technical gap with rival clubs by attracting local international players who form the backbone of any team aspiring to championships.

Technical staff vision and future plans

These swift moves in the winter transfer window come at the behest of precise technical recommendations and the direct request of the team's manager, Brendan Rodgers, who identified the team's defensive weaknesses as a top priority that must be addressed to finish the season as strongly as possible. Rodgers aims to create tactical balance in the back line by signing Al-Ahmad, thus providing the team with greater stability in the crucial remaining league matches.

In a surprising turn of events in the winter transfer market, AC Milan has officially decided against finalizing the signing of French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from English club Crystal Palace. This decisive decision was based on the recommendations of the club's medical staff, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to AFP, putting an end to the speculation that had dominated Italian media in recent hours.

Sources close to the Lombardy club revealed that the main reason behind the collapse of the deal lay in the results of the player's thorough medical examinations. AC Milan had requested additional and in-depth tests, specifically on the player's knee, but the results did not provide the necessary medical guarantees the club sought before investing in him. This led the management to abandon the deal to avoid any future risks that could affect the team's performance.

The original plan between the two parties was for Mateta (28 years old) to join the Rossoneri during the upcoming summer transfer window. However, given Milan's pressing need to strengthen their attack at present, a preliminary agreement was reached to bring his arrival forward by six months to this January, before the medical results brought the matter back to square one and the entire deal was canceled.

This setback is a blow to AC Milan's plans, as the team currently sits second in the Serie A standings. The coach and management were counting on the French striker to bolster their chances of competing for the Scudetto and closing the gap with the league leaders. Mateta has proven his worth in the English Premier League, playing in every match for Crystal Palace this season, except for the last one which he missed in anticipation of his move to Italy. This demonstrates his physical and technical readiness, aside from the medical concerns raised by Milan.

In a related development, Milan's withdrawal could open the door for their arch-rivals Juventus. According to Italian press reports, the "Old Lady" is closely monitoring the situation and may make an offer for Mateta in the few remaining hours before the winter transfer window closes, attempting to capitalize on the situation and bolster their squad with a striker experienced in Europe's top leagues.