Al Ettifaq Reach Verbal Agreement With Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Colleague to Replace Jordan Henderson- Reports

The unexpected exit of standout player Jordan Henderson to Ajax has indeed left a notable vacuum in Al Ettifaq. However, the Saudi powerhouse appears to have swiftly pivoted towards sourcing a suitable replacement from embittered rival, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr, specifically targeting midfielder Seko Fofana.

Ever since Henderson expressed his desire to leave Al Ettifaq, they have been actively searching for potential replacements. Similarly, rumors concerning Fofana’s desire for an escape route from Al Nassr were already circulating–with discontent over his performance purportedly at the core of his dissatisfaction. Now, it looks like all pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.

Following Henderson’s move to Ajax, recent developments indicate that both Al Ettifaq and Seko Fofana have had their wishes granted. Saudi-wired reports suggest a verbal agreement has been reached between both Saudi Arabia powerhouses for the transfer of the Ivory Coast midfielder.

Although specific aspects of the agreement remain undisclosed, it appears to be in line with the Knights of Najd’s prolonged objective of loaning their midfielder over recent weeks. In addition to Fofana, Al Ettifaq recently also loaned Abdullah Madu, another Al Nassr teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manager Steven Gerrard, who recently extended his contract till 2027, previously voiced his intent to acquire more top-tier talents to transform Al Ettifaq into a championship-competitive team. This signing seems poised as a strategic advance toward actualizing this goal.

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On the other hand, Al Nassr has remained quiet on the signing side during this transfer window. But with the 28-year-old midfielder’s departure, they have opened up space for their highly sought-after midfielder, Casemiro.

Seko Fofana’s departure opens the door for the Ronaldo-Casemiro reunion

Over recent months, the possibility of a reunion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro at Al Nassr has been highly circulating. According to credible reports, it appears that Casemiro’s agent has proposed talks with the Saudi side, with keen interest expressed from both sides.

Casemiro and Ronaldo won 11 trophies together, including 4 Champions League titles before Ronaldo left for Juventus. Later, when Casemiro joined Manchester United, they reunited briefly during Ronaldo’s second season with the Red Devils before his controversial exit and move to Al Nassr. Meanwhile, Casemiro cemented his place as a solid presence in United’s midfield, but consecutive red cards, followed by back-to-back ankle and Hamstring injuries have seemingly marred his time at the Theatre of Dreams.

With Fofana’s exit leaving room for an additional overseas player to bolster the ranks, this could potentially pave the way for the Brazilian midfielder’s transition into the squad. This scenario sets up a promising premise for a Ronaldo-Casemiro collaboration once more, making the imminent closure of this transfer window intriguing to observe.

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