Al-Nassr, the Saudi club where Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays, has been hit with a ban on registering new players until outstanding debts are settled, according to FIFA.
The exact amount of the debts was not disclosed by a FIFA spokesperson. The ban’s impact on the recent transfer of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan remains unclear.
FIFA stated that the ban would be lifted promptly once the debts are settled and confirmed by the creditors involved.
In October 2021, Al-Nassr was ordered by a FIFA-appointed judge to pay Leicester City a sum of 460,000 euros ($514,000) plus interest over a dispute related to the transfer of Nigerian international Ahmed Musa. Musa joined Al-Nassr for 18 million euros in 2018 but later departed and played for Turkey’s Sivasspor last season.
According to the previous ruling, failure to make the payment could result in Al-Nassr being banned from recruiting players for up to three consecutive registration periods.
The allure of substantial salaries has led the Saudi Pro League, backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, to attract renowned names from top European leagues.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard recently assumed the role of coach at Al-Ettifaq, while Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante have also made moves to the oil-rich Gulf state following Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr in January, sparking this growing trend.
