Trincão to Saudi Arabia? Al Ahli offer Sporting €50 million for the winger
Al Ahli are in advanced talks for Francisco Trincão. The Saudis have put around €50 million on the table and the player is open to the move.
The transfer market is not waiting for the World Cup to finish. Saudi side Al Ahli have opened advanced negotiations with Sporting for Francisco Trincão, with an offer of around €50 million — and, according to the Portuguese sports press, the 26-year-old winger is not closing the door on the move.
How much could the Trincão transfer be worth?
The figures on the table are around €50 million, a deal that would make Trincão one of the biggest sales in Sporting’s history. The player is under contract in Lisbon until 2030 with an €80 million release clause, so the final call rests with the club. The Saudis have identified the Portuguese international as their top priority to replace Riyad Mahrez.
Does the World Cup get in the way?
If anything, it may help: Trincão is with the national team in the United States, in the most-watched shop window on the planet, hours before Portugal vs Spain. Talks between the clubs are running in parallel — nothing forces the player to lose focus before the biggest match of the year.
For Sporting, the dilemma is a classic: lose a creative starter or bank a fee that funds half a squad. And the Saudi market has shown that once it decides to strike, it rarely gives up at the first no.
See also: Liga Portugal’s record transfer window. Official club news at sporting.pt.
By Vasco Almada
Image: Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
