A dramatic night in the Saudi Pro League has sent shockwaves all the way to Italy, as Al-Nassr officially suspended the loan of Brazilian goalkeeper Bento to Genoa following a chaotic Riyadh Derby.
Everything was in place for the 25-year-old shot-stopper to fly to Serie A on Monday (12th). However, the deal was halted at the eleventh hour. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the suspension is a direct result of the fallout from Al-Nassr’s heated defeat to arch-rivals Al-Hilal.
The “Rúben Neves Incident”
The turning point occurred during a flashpoint in the classic match. Al-Nassr’s starting goalkeeper, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, was shown a straight red card after a physical altercation with Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves. The incident, which saw Al-Aqidi push the Portuguese midfielder while attempting to retrieve the ball from the net, has left Al-Nassr in a goalkeeping crisis.
With Al-Aqidi facing a minimum two-match suspension and the club’s third-choice keeper still sidelined with a long-term injury, Bento has suddenly become the only senior option available to the club.
The Genoa Dilemma: Will They Wait?
The agreement between Al-Nassr and Genoa was a loan deal with an option to buy, valued at approximately €9 million. While the terms were verbally settled, the Saudi board has decided to keep Bento for at least the next two or three matches to cover Al-Aqidi’s absence.
This unexpected U-turn puts the Italian club in a difficult position:
- The Wait: Genoa must decide if they are willing to wait until late January to finalize the deal.
- The Risk: With the transfer window closing soon, the Grifone may be forced to abandon the pursuit of the Brazilian and look for an immediate alternative in the market.
What’s Next for Bento?
For the Brazilian international, the dream of playing in Europe remains alive but delayed. He is expected to start Al-Nassr’s next fixtures before the board re-evaluates his departure. For now, the “Bento to Italy” saga remains one of the most unpredictable stories of the winter window.
