Saudi presenter Waleed Al-Farraj has claimed that Al Ahli challenged a transfer report by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano and forced him to delete a social media post about the proposed signing of Artem Bondarenko.
Al-Farraj said the incident was part of what he described as a wider campaign of pressure and “negative energy” surrounding the Saudi Pro League club in recent weeks.
“Al Ahli does have problems, but what has happened in terms of mobilisation and negative energy within the club recently is frightening,” Al-Farraj said on the programme Rotana Sport with Waleed.
He then referred to a post published by Romano, who is widely known for reporting on transfers, concerning Bondarenko’s move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
“The tweeter Fabrizio Romano, for example, published a tweet saying that Al Ahli had signed the Ukrainian Artem Bondarenko, the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, for 18m euros as a fixed fee, plus 1m euros in add-ons,” Al-Farraj said.
According to the presenter, however, the financial terms were significantly lower than the figure reported by Romano.
“The deal was completed for only 6m euros, plus 1m euros in add-ons,” he added. “That is why Fabrizio deleted the tweet, because Al Ahli threatened that it would issue a statement disproving him. He became afraid and deleted the tweet.”
There was no response from Romano or Al Ahli included in Al-Farraj’s comments, and the claims have not been independently verified.
Al-Farraj also accused Romano of being part of a broader network used to exert influence over clubs in Saudi Arabia.
“This man is one of the main tools used to put pressure on clubs, through agents and in cooperation with some directors and foreign individuals working at Saudi clubs,” he said.
Al Ahli are reported to be close to completing a deal for Bondarenko, who plays in midfield for Shakhtar Donetsk. The 24-year-old Ukraine international is expected to provide a replacement for Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie.
Kessie left Al Ahli after his contract expired at the end of last season. His departure has increased the club’s need for reinforcement in midfield, with Bondarenko emerging as a potential addition.
The disagreement over the reported fee comes as Al Ahli continue to operate under scrutiny, with public discussion focusing on the club’s recruitment and internal management. Al-Farraj’s comments present the deleted post as an example of what he regards as exaggerated transfer reporting surrounding Saudi Pro League clubs.
Romano is a prominent source of transfer information, but figures reported during negotiations can vary depending on how fixed fees, bonuses and other contractual payments are calculated. In this case, Al-Farraj said the difference between the reported 18m euros and the alleged 6m euros guaranteed fee prompted Al Ahli to consider issuing a rebuttal.
The remarks were accompanied by a clip from Rotana Sport with Waleed shared on social media, carrying the message: “There is mobilisation against Al Ahli. Fabrizio Romano is one example of the pressure put on clubs, and Al Ahli forced him to delete his tweet because the figures were exaggerated and untrue.”
