The past few hours have witnessed dramatic developments in the transfer file of the Saudi Roshan League, as the reliable journalist and expert in the transfer market, Santi Ona, revealed a shocking surprise regarding the future of the French star N’Golo Kante, a professional player for Al-Ittihad Club, and the possibility of his transfer to the Turkish League before the transfer window closes there.

Santi Ona posted a tweet on his official X account on Tuesday that revived hopes for Fenerbahçe fans and sparked questions in Saudi sports circles, saying: "Negotiations between Al-Ittihad and Fenerbahçe regarding the transfer of N'Golo Kanté will resume. The French international already has a contract with the Turkish club, and the transfer window in Turkey closes on February 5th." This statement comes at a very critical time, as everyone is racing against the clock to finalize the deal before the deadline.

Behind the scenes of the stalled prisoner exchange deal and the TMS crisis

This news comes just hours after Turkish club Fenerbahçe officially announced the collapse of the major swap deal that had been on the horizon, which would have seen N'Golo Kanté move to their ranks in exchange for Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri joining Al-Ittihad. The Turkish club indicated in its statement that the main reason for the agreement's collapse was due to technical procedural errors by the "other party" (referring to Al-Ittihad) during data entry into the Transfer Matching System (TMS).

In its detailed statement, the club explained that Fenerbahçe's management handled the deal with high professionalism and according to a well-thought-out plan. This included finalizing agreements with the players based on the technical staff's recommendations, completing all necessary medical examinations, and obtaining official approvals. The statement emphasized that the Turkish club's documents were submitted correctly and completely within the allotted timeframe, noting that the deal's failure was beyond their control due to the other party providing incorrect information, which prevented the transaction from being finalized on schedule.

Kante's importance and the potential impact of the transfer

N'Golo Kanté is a cornerstone of Al-Ittihad's project and Saudi football in general, given his immense talent as a former World Cup winner and one of the best defensive midfielders of the last decade. His potential departure at this time could leave a void in Al-Ittihad's midfield, especially amidst fierce competition both domestically and continentally. On the other hand, signing Kanté represents a dream for Fenerbahçe's management, who are looking to bolster their squad with world-class players to compete for the Turkish league title.

The Turkish club concluded its statement by emphasizing that it had tried every possible avenue to salvage the situation, seeking an extension of the deadline and contacting FIFA directly to address the technical error. However, the other party's failure to complete the necessary procedures prevented the deal from being finalized. Now, with negotiations resuming as reported by Santi Ona, all eyes are on the coming hours to see if the parties will be able to overcome the time hurdle and complete the transfer before the evening of February 5th.

In a response marked by his usual sarcasm and unwavering confidence, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola addressed critics of his club's financial policies and transfer spending. Guardiola chose to use statistics laced with irony to counter claims that City's continued success is solely due to financial power, surprisingly revealing the club's ranking among the highest spenders.

Mockery of "seventh place" in spending

Just one day after the winter transfer window closed, Guardiola told reporters sarcastically, "I'm a little sad and annoyed because, in terms of net spending over the last five years, we're only seventh in the Premier League." The Spanish manager added with a wry smile, "I want to be first! I don't understand why the club doesn't spend more money." This statement strikes a nerve in English football circles, where City are often accused of buying titles, while the statistics Guardiola cited paint a different picture compared to their direct rivals.

Winter deals and transfer market facts

Guardiola's comments came in response to a journalist's question suggesting a "consensus" that Manchester City had the best winter transfer window among Premier League clubs, particularly with the addition of promising players like Marc Guehi and Ghanaian Antoine Simeone. Despite these quality signings, Guardiola insisted his team wasn't the most extravagant, using "facts" to counter "opinions," and pointing out that sporting success requires more than just writing checks.

Historical dominance and a comprehensive sports project

Guardiola's statements cannot be separated from the historical context of his time with the Sky Blues. Since taking over, Pep has led the club to an unprecedented golden era, winning the Premier League title six times (2018, 2019, and from 2021 to 2024), in addition to European glory with the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup victories in 2023, two FA Cups, and four League Cups. These achievements have come under the umbrella of the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, which acquired the club in 2008 and transformed it into a global powerhouse, not only through financial resources but also through the strategic planning that Guardiola fiercely defends.

A message to the competitors and the challenges of the current season

Guardiola continued his sarcastic remarks with a veiled message to his rivals, saying: "We won in the past because we spent a lot, so six teams should win the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup today because they've spent more than us over the last five years." He concluded by wishing "good luck" to the six teams ahead of City in the spending charts, clearly implying that money alone doesn't win championships.

In the current competition, City continues to fight on all fronts, as they occupy second place in the Premier League after 24 rounds, and continue their campaign to defend their pride in the Champions League (round of 16) and the FA Cup (fourth round), while preparing for a crucial match on Wednesday in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Newcastle, supported by their 2-0 away win in the first leg.

In a rapidly developing situation within the Saudi Professional League, international press reports revealed details of the stormy meeting between league officials and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr club, to clarify the facts regarding Al-Hilal club’s strong moves in the recent winter transfer market, which included a sensational deal to bring in French star Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad.

According to Sky Sports, Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy with the club's winter signings, but Saudi Pro League officials clarified the situation for the Portuguese star. They explained that Al-Hilal's exceptional acquisitions were not funded through the unified recruitment program, but rather were personally financed by prominent club member and long-time supporter, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

Private finance and the equation of competition

The network indicated that the message conveyed to Ronaldo was clear and direct: "Al-Hilal's deals are funded by Al-Waleed bin Talal, and if any Al-Nassr supporter wishes to finance similar deals, they should step forward and contribute accordingly." This clarification sheds light on the current structure of Saudi clubs, where the Public Investment Fund's budgets are complemented by private support from honorary members and financial backers. This gives some clubs greater flexibility in finalizing major deals outside the official budget allocated by the league.

Ronaldo refuses training, crisis escalates

Despite official clarifications, sources confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo is still angry, as the network stated that the Portuguese star refuses to participate in Al-Nasr's training sessions until this moment as a form of protest against the current situation, while the club's management and officials are seeking to contain the situation and find a breakthrough in the next few days to ensure the team's stability.

Historical context and development of the Saudi League

This crisis comes at a time when the Saudi league is experiencing an unprecedented global boom, which effectively began with Ronaldo's arrival at Al-Nassr, opening the door for dozens of international stars. With the Public Investment Fund's acquisition of the four major clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli), the intensity of competition has increased not only on the pitch but also in the transfer market, making fans and players alike keenly aware of the power dynamics.

Awaited confrontation amidst the storm

On the field, this crisis comes at a very critical time for Al-Nassr, who are preparing for a fiery "Clásico" against Al-Ittihad in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. The highly anticipated match will take place next Friday evening, and Al-Nassr fans are hoping for their captain's swift return to training to lead the team in this crucial encounter, a must-win in their quest for the title.