Al-Ahli Saudi Seeks Wydad Friendly After Manchester United Deal Falters

Al-Ahli Saudi Club's management has initiated negotiations with their counterparts at Wydad AC to schedule a friendly match in the upcoming period. This move comes after talks with English club Manchester United stalled due to what Al-Ahli deemed "exaggerated" financial demands from the Premier League side.

According to Saudi newspaper "Al-Riyadiah," Al-Ahli's management has now shifted its focus towards Wydad to compensate for the cancelled Manchester United friendly. The proposed match is set to take place in Jeddah in early December, coinciding with the Saudi national team's participation in the Arab Cup.

The same source also revealed that Al-Ahli had previously reached an agreement with Raja Club Athletic for a friendly match in Saudi Arabia during December, as part of both teams' preparations for the post-international break period. However, the Saudi club subsequently opened new negotiations with Wydad, seeking an additional friendly of high competitive quality.

The sources further indicated that Al-Ahli is awaiting an official response from Wydad's management, driven by German coach Matthias Jaissle's desire for a strong fixture to help the team maintain its readiness during the upcoming break.

Al-Ahli had engaged in advanced negotiations with Manchester United, but these talks ceased after the English club presented financial demands described as "significantly high." This prompted the Saudi team to explore alternative options, with Wydad AC emerging as the leading candidate.