The past few hours have witnessed rapid developments in the file of foreign professionals within the corridors of the Saudi Al-Nassr club, as international press reports revealed serious moves by one of the prestigious Italian clubs to acquire the services of the Brazilian international goalkeeper Pinto Matheus, the guardian of the “global” goal, during the current transfer period.
Details of the financial offer submitted by Genoa
According to reliable Italian journalist and transfer market expert Nicolo Schira, via his official X account, Genoa has submitted a formal offer to Al-Nassr. The offer includes a loan for the Brazilian goalkeeper until the end of the current season for €1.5 million, with an option for the Italian club to purchase the player outright for €8.5 million, bringing the total value of the potential deal to €10 million.
Victory's stance and timing of response
In contrast, Al-Nassr's management is handling this offer with extreme caution, especially given the fierce competition both domestically and continentally. Sources indicate that Al-Nassr officials will not rush into giving a final answer, having set a deadline after the team's upcoming match against Damac as the official date to respond to Genoa's offer, either accepting or rejecting it.
This delay by Al-Nassr is logical given the team’s current circumstances, as the coaching staff relies entirely on Pinto to protect the goal during the upcoming crucial matches against Al-Shabab and Damac, especially with the absence of local goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, who was suspended for two matches after receiving a red card in the Riyadh derby against Al-Hilal.
Pinto's career and statistics with Al-Nassr
The 26-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper joined Al-Nassr in the summer transfer window of the 2024/2025 season from Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense, in a deal that raised high hopes for strengthening the team's defense. Since his arrival, Pinto has become a key player in the squad.
In terms of numbers and statistics, Pinto participated with Al-Nasr during the current season in 10 matches, during which he succeeded in keeping a clean sheet in 5 matches, while his goal was breached 7 times, reflecting a tangible technical value that the Italian club seeks to benefit from in Serie A.
Potential impact of the deal
This news is particularly significant as it confirms that the Saudi Professional League has become a focus of attention for major European clubs, not only for attracting star players but also for attempting to bring back some of their former stars. This reflects the quality of the signings recently made by Saudi clubs. The question remains: will Al-Nassr let go of their starting goalkeeper mid-season, or will they decide to hold onto him to compete for titles?
