Al Ahli Plotting Ambitious Move For Atletico Madrid Star After Napoli Ace Rejected Them

• Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli wants to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul
• The club switched focus to the Argentine after their pursuit of Piotr Zielinski collapsed
• Al-Ahli have signed several top stars from Europe this summer including Riyad Mahrez

Days after getting rejected by Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ahli, have set their sights on Atletico Madrid midfielder, Rodrigo de Paul.

Al-Ahli have signed some top hitters this summer already and are looking to bolster their squad before the transfer window closes on September 20.

Historically, Al-Ahli have been one of Saudi Arabia’s most successful clubs but suffered relegation from the SPL in the 2021/22 season. They were promoted back to the top flight this year.

They are one of the four founding clubs of the league, along with Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr. The country's Public Investment Fund (PIF) controls 75 percent of the four clubs.

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Al-Ahli have made some major signings this summer, namely: Riyad Mahrez, Roger Ibanez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Merih Demiral, Edouard Mendy, Franck Kessie, and Roberto Firmino, per Transfermarkt.

Al-Ahli eyeing De Paul

According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, the Saudi Pro League side have opened talks to sign the Argentina midfielder after their pursuit of Zielinski collapsed a week ago.

De Paul moved to Spain in 2021 for €35 million from the Italian side, Udinese, and Atletico will need some convincing to sell a key player. Lucky for Al-Ahli, they have a bulging purse that can persuade almost any footballer to join them.

If they offer a substantial fee and a hefty salary to the player, it is hard to see Atletico declining. Moreover, if the World Cup winner wants to leave, he could be Al-Ahli's player in the next few weeks.

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Sports Brief also reported on Firmino and Mahrez lighting up the SPL on their debut. Barely six minutes in against Al Hazem, the Brazilian notched his first goal for his new team.

Four minutes later, the 31-year-old striker impressively doubled both his personal tally and his team's advantage, courtesy of a precision pass from the Algerian midfielder.

Firmino then scored another goal to secure a hat-trick for his new team and a vital 3-1 win over Hazem as Al-Ahli began their new Saudi Pro League campaign on a winning note.