FC Porto missed out on a 50-million-euro transfer fee because Galeno’s move to Saudi Arabia fell through after all. The Portuguese will lodge an official complaint about the process
The 26-year-old attacker, in whom Juventus had also been interested, should have moved to Al-Ittihad on Monday – in Saudi Arabia, three days after the European deadline, it was the infamous “Deadline Day”. But something went wrong on the home straight.
Al-Ittihad, the club led by coach Laurent Blanc or captain Karim Benzema, decided at short notice against the deal, which was considered sealed apart from the medical check and would have involved a transfer fee of 50 million euros. Instead, the Saudi Pro League’s third-placed team (who started with two wins) signed Steven Bergwijn from Ajax Amsterdam for the wing, which “only” required a transfer fee of €21 million.
“Deeply displeased with the manner ”
Following this turn of events, FC Porto will send “a communication to the chairman of the aforementioned club and to the chairman of the Saudi Arabian league”, as the club itself announced in a statement, expressing its “deep displeasure at the way in which this process was carried out and broken off after a full agreement had been reached between the clubs and the player”.
The Portuguese side also announced that they were delighted to welcome Galeno (contract until 2028) back into their ranks.
In 2023/24, the one-time Brazil international enjoyed a breakthrough season of sorts, scoring five goals and providing three assists in seven Champions League appearances. He also scored twice this season in the spectacular Super Cup win against Sporting, and the right-footer has already scored three goals in four games in the league. He can now add to this tally – even if it wasn’t planned
