It’s possible that N’Golo Kanté’s agent is playing a tight political game with Al-Ittihad’s management to force them to renew the 34-year-old’s contract for a long term, using the alleged Fenerbahçe offer as leverage.
Turkish media outlets have confirmed an agreement between Kanté and Fenerbahçe, while Al-Ittihad remains adamant about keeping the player until his contract expires next June.
According to Al-Riyadh newspaper, Al-Ittihad wanted to renew Kanté’s contract for one year, with a reduction in his current salary of €25 million annually, in line with the Saudi club’s new policy of not offering long-term contracts to older players.
Kanté rejected this, preferring a long-term two-year contract. It’s said that this is what initially attracted him to Fenerbahçe’s offer, as it would guarantee him a stay with the Turkish club until at least the summer of 2028.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad has no intention of letting Kanté leave mid-season, believing it would create an unfillable gap in midfield during the current winter transfer window. It seems most likely that the player will remain with the Jeddah-based club until next June.
Saudi newspapers suggest that Fenerbahçe’s offer might simply be a tactic to pressure Al-Ittihad into renewing his contract for two years, especially since the salary offered in Turkey is significantly lower than his current salary with the Saudi club.
Ultimately, Kanté will remain at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel) unless an unexpected development occurs. Renewal negotiations are expected to resume strongly in the coming months, as Al-Ittihad officials highly value the player and his contributions to Sergio Conceição’s squad.
