Benfica's Bold Move for Soufiane El Karouani
In a surprising turn of events, Benfica has successfully secured the services of Moroccan left-back Soufiane El Karouani from Al-Qadsiah only three months after the Saudi club initially signed him. This swift transfer underscores Benfica's ambition to bolster their squad during the current season. Al-Qadsiah announced on Tuesday that they have reached an agreement to loan El Karouani to Benfica until the season's end, which includes a clause that allows the Portuguese club to make the move permanent for around 10 million euros upon the loan's conclusion.
El Karouani's Journey and Future Prospects
The departure of El Karouani from Al-Qadsiah comes shortly after his arrival in June, when he joined the Saudi side on a three-year contract as a free agent following the conclusion of his tenure with Utrecht in the Netherlands. Reports suggest that the 25-year-old defender struggled to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia and subsequently fell out of favor with Al-Qadsiah's coaching staff, led by Brendan Rodgers. Despite these challenges, El Karouani remains a promising talent, having showcased impressive statistics last season with Utrecht, where he played 50 matches, netting four goals and assisting 18 others. His potential is widely recognized, making this acquisition by Benfica a noteworthy strategic move as they look to enhance their squad depth and competitiveness.
As reported by goal.com.
