Officials at Italian club Genoa have decided to completely abandon the idea of signing Brazilian international goalkeeper Pinto Matheus, the goalkeeper of Saudi club Al-Nasr, during the transfer period, after negotiations between the two parties officially stalled and reached a dead end.
Renowned Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, a specialist in transfer market news, revealed on his official X account the behind-the-scenes details that led to the collapse of the deal. Di Marzio explained that Genoa's management decided to withdraw from the race to sign Pinto and instead pursue an alternative goalkeeper to bolster their Serie A squad, after their offer was firmly rejected by the Saudi club.
Details of the rejected offer and Al-Nasr's stance
According to sources, the Italian club submitted a financial offer of €11 million to acquire the Brazilian goalkeeper. However, Al-Nassr's management, seeking to maintain the stability of the team's core squad, rejected the offer outright. This led the Italian club to refrain from submitting any further improved offers, preferring to close the file and explore less expensive and more negotiable options.
The context of the contract and the importance of Bento in the "global" project
Al-Nassr's management's insistence on keeping goalkeeper Pinto Matheus stems from a comprehensive technical vision aimed at securing the goalkeeping position, which the team has struggled with in the past. The decision to bring in Pinto was a radical solution following inconsistent performances in that position, particularly after the criticism leveled at goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi following his mistake in the Riyadh derby against Al-Hilal at the Kingdom Arena. Al-Nassr's decision-makers understand that letting go of a goalkeeper of Pinto's caliber and abilities, who also possesses international experience with the Brazilian national team, would be a blow to the team's defensive stability.
Expected impact and message of the Saudi League
Al-Nassr's rejection of an €11 million offer from an Italian club reflects the financial strength and ambitious sporting project of the Saudi Professional League. Saudi clubs are no longer mere stepping stones, but rather destinations that attract and retain star players to compete for continental and global titles. This stance sends a clear message to European clubs that letting go of star players is no longer an easy option, especially key players upon whom the team relies in its domestic and Asian campaigns.
On the field results front, Al-Nasr continues its strong performances, as the team recently succeeded in achieving a valuable victory over its counterpart Al-Shabab with a score of three goals to two, in an exciting match that brought the two teams together in the last round of the Roshan League, which confirms the team’s need for all its stars to continue competing for the top of the standings.
