Fabrizio Romano deletes Al Ahli transfer post after fee dispute, says Saudi presenter

Fabrizio Romano removed a social media post about Al Ahli’s reported move for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Artem Bondarenko after the Saudi club allegedly threatened to issue a statement challenging the figures, according to Saudi broadcaster Walid Al-Farraj.

Al-Farraj said the Italian transfer journalist had claimed that Al Ahli were signing the Ukraine international for a fixed fee of €18m, with a further €1m available in add-ons.

However, the Saudi presenter said the actual agreement was worth €6m, plus €1m in potential extras. He claimed Romano deleted the post after Al Ahli warned that the club would publish a statement accusing him of reporting incorrect information.

“The deal was completed for only €6m, with €1m in add-ons, so Fabrizio deleted the post because Al Ahli threatened him that it would issue a statement contradicting him. He was afraid and deleted the post,” Al-Farraj said on his programme Rotana Sport with Walid.

The comments came as Al-Farraj discussed what he described as mounting pressure and negative campaigning around Al Ahli.

“It is true that Al Ahli have problems, but what has happened in terms of mobilisation and negative energy at the club during the past period is frightening,” he said.

Al-Farraj also criticised the role he believes Romano has played in the wider debate surrounding Saudi clubs and the transfer market.

“This man is one of the main tools that have been used to put pressure on clubs, through agents and in cooperation with some foreign directors and figures working at Saudi clubs,” he added.

He had introduced the example by referring to Romano’s post about Bondarenko, who plays in midfield for Shakhtar Donetsk. According to Al-Farraj, the figures published by Romano did not reflect the true value of the proposed transfer, prompting Al Ahli to challenge the information.

The claims have not been independently verified in the source report, and neither Romano nor Al Ahli is quoted as responding directly to Al-Farraj’s account.

Al Ahli are reportedly close to completing a deal for Bondarenko, who is expected to replace Ivory Coast international Franck Kessie. Kessie left the club after his contract expired at the end of last season.

The reported move for Bondarenko comes as Al Ahli attempt to strengthen their midfield, while the dispute over the transfer fee has drawn attention to the way Saudi Pro League deals are reported publicly.

Al-Farraj’s remarks were made during his television programme, where he described Romano as an example of the pressure placed on clubs through transfer-market reporting and intermediaries. His account centred on the deleted post and the difference between the fee initially reported and the figure he said had actually been agreed.