The technical staff of Al-Nasr team, led by the Portuguese coach, settled the controversy surrounding the winter transfer file, clarifying the club’s final position on making new deals during the coming period, following the exciting victory achieved by the team.
Al-Nasr's stance on winter transfers
In the press conference held after Al-Nasr’s victory over Al-Shabab by three goals to two on Tuesday evening, as part of the (16) round of the Saudi Professional League, the coach clarified the team’s reinforcements.
The coach stated, "The financial situation isn't ideal right now, and we already have eight foreign players on our roster, which means there's no opportunity to sign a new player at the moment unless one of them leaves." He added, expressing his satisfaction with the current squad, "I'm very happy with the team's performance during the first round of the competition.".
Despite emphasizing the difficulty of making signings, the Portuguese coach hinted at the end of his statements that he had a purely technical desire to sign two or three players to strengthen the bench and increase the team's tactical depth, but the financial and regulatory reality may prevent this.
Regulations for foreign players in the Saudi League
These statements come in compliance with the regulations of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Professional League, which stipulate that clubs are permitted to register only eight foreign players in their main squad. This requirement is a crucial factor in club activity during the winter transfer window, as any club wishing to acquire a new international player must terminate the contract of one of its current foreign players, either through a permanent sale or a loan. This process necessitates complex financial settlements and careful technical approvals to ensure the team's balance is not disrupted.
Financial challenges and technical stability
The Saudi sports scene is witnessing a shift towards financial sustainability, with clubs subject to strict oversight to ensure a balance between revenues and expenditures. The Al-Nassr coach's statements indicate the technical management's awareness of these challenges, preferring to focus on the technical stability of the squad that achieved positive results in the first half of the season, rather than risking signings that could strain the club's budget without guaranteeing immediate success.
The race for the top spot in the Roshan League
The valuable victory over Al-Shabab raised Al-Nassr's points tally to 34, igniting the competition at the top of the standings. The team continues its pursuit of league leaders Al-Hilal, with the gap now reduced to four points, taking into account the remaining matches for their rivals. This win reflects Al-Nassr's desire to fight for the title until the very end, relying on the cohesion of its current squad and their vast experience to secure victories in the crucial matches of the second half of the season.
