Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr club is on the verge of bidding farewell to its first professional player during the current winter transfer window, as confirmed reports indicate that Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto Matheus is close to leaving the “Global” club and heading towards European stadiums, specifically to the Italian Serie A, in a move aimed at restructuring the team’s ranks.
Technical moves to correct the course
These rapid developments come as part of a comprehensive technical review being conducted by Al-Nassr's football management and coaching staff, in an effort to rectify the situation after a series of disappointing results recently. The team's performance has witnessed a noticeable decline, failing to secure a victory in its last three matches, managing only a draw against Al-Ettifaq, while suffering consecutive defeats against Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisiyah. This has cost the team the top spot in the Saudi Professional League, which has been claimed by their arch-rivals, Al-Hilal.
The recent 1-2 loss to Al-Qadisiyah in the fourteenth round served as a wake-up call, as the team's tally remained frozen at 31 points, an unenviable situation just days before the anticipated Riyadh derby against Al-Hilal, which represents a crucial turning point in the title race.
Details of the Genoa Italian offer
According to reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, a transfer market specialist, goalkeeper Pinto has reached a preliminary agreement with Italian club Genoa. The deal involves a six-month loan for the Brazilian goalkeeper, with an option for the Italian club to purchase him permanently at the end of the loan period. The player is expected to fly to Italy within the next few hours to undergo a medical examination and sign the official contracts.
Sources indicated that Genoa's management was pushing to complete the deal immediately, but the procedures were slightly delayed due to the official holiday, so the two clubs agreed to complete all the official paperwork during the weekend.
The context of transfers in the Saudi League
The current activity in the Saudi Professional League (SPL) transfer market is a natural reflection of the tremendous development Saudi football is witnessing. Saudi clubs have become a focus of global attention, not only for attracting star players but also for exporting or loaning players to Europe's top five leagues. The potential transfer of Pinto to Serie A underscores the quality of players in the Saudi league and their ability to compete at the highest levels in Europe.
Reasons for leaving and player statistics
The main reason for Pinto's departure is his recent exclusion from the starting lineup, with the coaching staff preferring to rely on Saudi international goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi to protect Al-Nassr's goal. Despite receiving several offers, most notably from West Ham United in England, the Brazilian goalkeeper's desire ultimately led him to the Italian league, renowned for its highly effective defensive tactics for goalkeepers.
In terms of statistics, Pinto has played 10 matches for Al-Nassr this season across all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in 5 of them while conceding 7 goals. His overall record with Al-Nassr stands at 59 official matches, with 20 clean sheets, making him a valuable option for Genoa as they look to strengthen their squad.
