Al Nassr and Al Shabab bid for Martin Braithwaite, whose future is seemingly headed to Saudi Arabia

As reported earlier in SPORT, Martin Braithwaite is very close to terminating the contract that binds him to FC Barcelona until June 30, 2024, to accept an offer with a hefty paycheck that would lead him to play in Saudi Arabia.

The names of the two clubs bidding for his services have now emerged as Al Nassr and Al Shabab, who are aspiring to end the hegemony of Al Hilal, who have won the Saudi championship for the last three seasons.

The Saudi option opens a way forward in a stagnant situation. At the end of last season, Xavi told Braithwaite that he was not counting on him in his new project. But Barça's proposals for the Danish striker's transfer were all met with stiff refusal. Thus, the club has opened the way for the termination of his contract and has advanced negotiations with the player's representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, to reach an agreement. Braithwaite's departure will help Barça to reduce the wage bill.

The news of the two Saudi clubs interested in the services of the Danish striker comes the same day that Celta has ruled out his signing. As such, the two doors left open to Braithwaite in LaLiga Santander are Rayo Vallecano, and Getafe, who may have withdrawn from the bidding after signing Borja Mayoral.

Braithwaite along with Óscar Mingueza, Samuel Umtiti, Neto Murata and Riqui Puig was left out of the tour of the United States so that he could freely negotiate his departure from Barça. Presently, the only one who has left the Barça squad is the defender from Santa Perpètua, who signed for Celta as a free agent until 2026.