Anis Hadj Moussa’s future could be decided on Sunday, with the Saudi transfer window due to close in the evening and Al-Ittihad continuing to pursue the Feyenoord winger.
Information remains mixed around the proposed move. There is growing optimism that the Saudi club could complete a deal for the 24-year-old Algeria international, while reports from the Netherlands suggest relations between Hadj Moussa and Feyenoord have become increasingly strained.
Hadj Moussa had previously been viewed as almost impossible to sign during the final days of the transfer window. His departure would have appeared unlikely only a few weeks ago, when he was still preparing to represent Feyenoord in the Champions League.
However, journalist Nabil Djellit reports that Feyenoord are no longer completely opposed to selling the player. The club is understood to have accepted that no sufficiently attractive offer arrived from the Premier League, which had initially been Hadj Moussa’s preferred destination.
The situation reportedly changed after Al-Ittihad stepped up their interest. The Jeddah-based club have made several offers in recent days, with the latest proposals believed to have come close to €40m. They have also offered Hadj Moussa a particularly lucrative contract.
“Des bonnes chances que le deal se fasse”, Djellit said, suggesting there is a strong possibility that the transfer will go through. If completed at that level, the deal would make Hadj Moussa the most expensive sale in Feyenoord’s history.
Speculation increased on Saturday after Al-Ittihad’s victory over Al-Nassr. Houssem Aouar was asked by a Saudi journalist whether he had spoken to Hadj Moussa, but the Algeria international avoided answering and laughed off the question.
There are, however, reports of a more difficult relationship between the player and his club during the final stages of the negotiations.
According to Sport, Hadj Moussa initially accepted Feyenoord’s decision to retain him after the club rejected an offer from Saudi Arabia. The situation is said to have changed on Saturday, with the influence of his representatives reportedly contributing to the player challenging Feyenoord’s position.
His absence from the squad against NEC Nijmegen added to the uncertainty. Some Dutch sources initially said Hadj Moussa had missed the team bus after arriving late. Other reports have offered a different explanation, meaning the precise circumstances of his withdrawal remain unclear.
The disagreement follows several days of tension. Hadj Moussa and his representatives believe commitments had been made about the conditions of a possible transfer. Feyenoord technical director Devy Rigaux, however, has said no such agreement existed in writing.
Only a few months ago, Hadj Moussa appeared destined to join one of Europe’s major leagues after impressing in the Champions League. A move to the Premier League was among the possibilities discussed, but the significant offer expected from England never materialised.
Saudi Arabia now represents the biggest transfer opportunity of his career. Feyenoord must decide whether to keep a player who could be unhappy, despite being unable to sign a replacement because the Dutch transfer window has closed, or accept a club-record fee.
Al-Ittihad have one final day to convince Feyenoord to sell before the Saudi window shuts.