The interest is not limited to Martinez alone, as the kingdom is also seeking to sign Rashford, his teammate at Aston Villa, with advanced negotiations underway to acquire the duo in a deal that could create a significant stir in sports circles.
These moves are part of a plan to support Saudi clubs with international stars, aiming to enhance the league’s status both locally and internationally, and attract the attention of followers from around the world.
In a related context, Al-Ittihad Club has successfully secured its first summer signing after obtaining the signature of one of Al-Hilal’s prominent players, in a free transfer deal without any financial compensation.
The transfer of the Al-Hilal player to Al-Ittihad is considered a surprising move that could affect the balance of competition in the league, especially with the start of the new sports season 2025-2026.
