Reports indicate that Al-Nassr has reached an agreement with Chelsea for Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel, with the deal valued at 19.3 million pounds, as Chelsea looks to offload the teenager. Despite the transfer window closing for most leagues last Friday, markets in Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and Greece remain open. On deadline day, Chelsea managed to offload Raheem Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, and Armando Broja, but they were unable to find new homes for all their surplus players.
Chelsea had signed Angelo from Santos for 12.5 pounds last summer, and he spent the past season on loan at Strasbourg. Angelo, who has yet to make a competitive appearance for Chelsea, was previously linked with a move to Turkish side Besiktas, but no deal materialized. With new arrivals like Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, and Jadon Sancho, Angelo’s chances of getting first-team minutes have become nearly nonexistent.
How Chelsea Made the Move Profitable
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However, the remaining transfer windows offer Chelsea an opportunity to conduct further deals, and it appears they are taking advantage of this. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, Al-Nassr has agreed to pay 19.3 million pounds for the winger, and he is expected to join Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi club.
If the transfer is finalized, Chelsea will make a profit on a player who was only featured in pre-season. Although Angelo signed a long-term contract with Chelsea last summer, his swift departure reflects the new ownership’s approach, which may lead to similar moves involving other players.
Chelsea is also seeking to loan out another Brazilian, Deivid Washington, with Flamengo showing interest. However, they must act quickly to finalize the deal. Angelo Gabriel hopes to unite with the Al Nassr team at their camp as soon as possible.
Saudi Clubs Approaching Talents from Europe
Former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is expected to undergo a medical exam in Rome on Monday in connection with a potential transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha. Other players who might move to Saudi Arabia include Victor Osimhen, who was excluded from Napoli’s Serie A squad after a transfer to Al-Ahli fell through, and Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been instrumental in this significant shift in Saudi Arabian football. The arrival of high-profile players like Karim Benzema, Neymar Junior, and Sadio Mane has set a high standard, driven by various factors including lucrative financial offers. The stated reasons have a significant part in bringing Angelo Gabriel to Al Nassr from the Chelsea side. Young stars currently making waves in Europe, such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Kevin de Bruyne, have also been linked with Saudi clubs. However, they are believed to be focused on proving themselves further in Europe, which has led them to decline these offers for now.
