Hakim Ziyech has publicly responded to claims he failed his Al Nassr medical after the mooted transfer did not materialise.
The Chelsea star looked set to be joining the likes of N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy in Saudi Arabia, having being in advanced talks to join Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.
But just when the deal looks like it was about to be closed, reports emerged claiming the deal had fell through.
Advert
Foot Mercato say the medical in Saudi Arabia uncovered a knee problem and that raised some doubts for Al Nassr. It was claimed he had a second medical and because of worries, the offer on the table was revised and featured reduced terms.
The transfer collapsed as a result but Ziyech has reacted to the idea that he has issues in his knees.
On Instagram, he posted a picture of his legs on a football pitch, with the caption, "Knee problems right ??" accompanied by laughing emojis.
It's said that a similar issue came to light when Ziyech was slated to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on loan in the January window but the club were content with completing the deal after further examinations.
However, the transfer fell through at the very last minute, withChelsea apparently sending the wrong documents to PSG on THREE occasions.
That caused a substantial delay and as a result, transfer and contract could not be validated before the transfer deadline.
An appeal was launched but came to nothing, with Ziyech left in limbo and remaining at Chelsea for the remainder of the season.
As per The Athletic, a PSG source described the situation as a "Class A circus" - with sporting director Luis Ocampos particularly critical of the blues.
It appears as though Ziyech remains surplus to requirements and it's unlikely he will be plying his trade with Chelsea next season.
Meanwhile, Al Nassr have confirmed the signing of Inter Milan and Croatia star Marcelo Brozovic, who is said to be earning €25 million per year over three years.
Topics: Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia
Josh Lawless