Madrid: Club captain Nacho Fernandez will leave Real Madrid for a reported move to Saudi Arabia, the 15-time Champions League winners announced on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old center-back spent 23 years with the club — 12 of them in the first team squad — lifting the European crown six times, La Liga on four occasions and the Copa del Rey twice.
According to Spanish media, Nacho has signed a two-year deal with Al-Qadsiah, who were recently promoted to the Saudi top-flight.
“Since he arrived at our youth academy as a child, Nacho has been an example to everyone and has earned the affection, recognition and admiration of everyone at Real Madrid,” club president Florentino Perez said in a statement.
“Real Madrid is and always will be his home,” he added.
Nacho is set to join fellow former Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League.
Captain Nacho to leave Real Madrid for reported Saudi move
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Captain Nacho to leave Real Madrid for reported Saudi move
- The 34-year-old center-back spent 23 years with the club — 12 of them in the first team squad
UAE, Egypt share points as Jordan, Algeria and Iraq book Arab Cup quarter-final spots
- Arab Cup reaching the finale of the group stages as knockouts loom
DOHA: The UAE and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday to keep both sides’ progression hopes alive at the Arab Cup, while Jordan, Algeria and Iraq all secured their places in the quarter-finals.
Cosmin Olaroiu’s UAE side had the best chance of the opening half, with Mohamed Bassam producing a fine outstretched-leg save to deny Bruno from close range. They eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark through a flowing counter-attack from one end of the pitch to the other, Nicolas Jimenez squaring for Caio Lucas to sweep the ball past Bassam.
Egypt rescued a share of the spoils late on when Karim Eraky delivered an 85th-minute cross that Marwan Hamdy headed back across goal.
The Pharaohs thought they had snatched a winner moments later, but the effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up, leaving Egypt second in the group, a point clear of both the UAE and Kuwait.
Jordan became the latest team to book their place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Kuwait in Group C at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The World Cup 2026 qualifiers caught Kuwait off guard for the opening goal, taking a quick free-kick some 30 yards out for Mohannad Abu Taha to unleash a fierce strike beyond Sulaiman Abdulghafour.
Abdulghafour was tested repeatedly and beaten again early in the second half as Saed Al-Rosan converted from close range following another dangerous corner delivery from Mahmoud Mardi.
Kuwait set up a tense finale when substitute Yousef Nasser headed home from Eid Al-Rashidi’s cross, but Ali Olwan sealed the result deep into added time by converting a penalty after being brought down by the goalkeeper.
Defending champions Algeria underlined their title credentials with a commanding 5-1 win over Bahrain, with Qatar-based players playing a decisive role in all five goals.
Al-Wakrah’s Redouane Berkane opened the scoring before setting up Al-Duhail’s Adil Boulbina for the second, shortly after Bahrain had levelled during a frantic six-minute spell.
Berkane then won a penalty, converted by Yassine Benzia in first-half stoppage time, before scoring his second shortly after the restart.
Substitute Yacine Brahimi later teed up Boulbina for his second as Algeria completed a comfortable victory, maintaining an unbeaten start ahead of their group finale against Iraq on Tuesday.
Iraq also progressed to the last eight after withstanding heavy early pressure from Sudan before striking twice late on at Stadium 974.
After spending much of the first half on the back foot, Graham Arnold’s side took the lead when Player of the Match Mohanad Ali capitalised on a poor defensive header from a free-kick. Amjed Attwan then secured the win six minutes from time, sending the passionate Iraq support into raptures.
