Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr has come under fire after a dramatic collapse of a deal involving Slovakian defender David Hancko, with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid now back in the race for the center-back’s signature.
The 27-year-old had reportedly agreed to join the Saudi Arabian club from Dutch side Feyenoord in a deal worth €40 million. This would have made Hancko Feyenoord’s record sale and marked a major defensive reinforcement for Al-Nassr ahead of the new season. However, the highly anticipated move took a bizarre turn when Hancko arrived at the club’s pre-season camp in Austria.
Despite having agreed personal terms and passed the necessary checks, the Slovak international was reportedly denied access to both the team hotel and the training facilities. The unexpected snub left Feyenoord and the player blindsided, with the Dutch club publicly condemning the move.
Feyenoord expressed outrage, labeling Al-Nassr’s handling of the situation as scandalous and disrespectful. The club claimed Hancko had mentally and professionally committed to the transfer for weeks, only to be mistreated at the final stage. The incident has triggered backlash from various quarters, raising questions about professionalism and contract reliability in modern football, particularly in emerging football markets like Saudi Arabia.
With Al-Nassr now officially out of the picture, Atletico Madrid have swiftly re-entered the fray. The La Liga side had previously shown strong interest in Hancko last summer and had even reached an agreement with the player, though no deal was struck with Feyenoord at the time. Now, with the player still available and determined to move, Atletico sees a renewed opportunity to bring him to the Spanish capital.
Hancko, known for his composure, aerial strength, and leadership at the back, has been one of Feyenoord’s standout performers in recent seasons. His potential addition would strengthen Diego Simeone’s defensive unit, especially with long-term concerns over depth and fitness in the backline.
As the transfer window progresses, the saga serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly football deals can unravel, and how one club’s misstep can become another’s gain. All eyes will now be on Madrid to see if they can finalize what Al-Nassr ultimately failed to deliver.
