New details have emerged surrounding the departure of N’Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad, with reports suggesting that disagreements with head coach Sergio Conceicao played a role in the midfielder’s mid-season move.
The French international left the Jeddah-based club during the winter transfer window to join Fenerbahce, in a transfer that drew attention given his status as one of the team’s most prominent foreign players.
Disagreements behind the scenes
Former Al-Ittihad player Manaf Abu Shaqir provided insight into the situation during an appearance on the “Our League is Different” programme. He indicated that tensions had developed between Kanté and Conceição prior to the transfer.
“Conceição had disagreements with some players, most notably Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud, in addition to N’Golo Kante, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the Portuguese coach’s behavior and felt uncomfortable at times.”
He added: “There is a technical disagreement between Conceição and Kante, but it has not reached the point of a major clash.”
These remarks prompted a response from media figure Khaled Al-Shunaif, who said: “This means that the coach has problems with the entire team.”
A significant departure
Kanté joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and went on to make 105 appearances for the club. During that period, he scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists, playing a key role in the team’s success in securing both the Saudi League and the King Salman Cup during the 2024–25 season.
His departure, therefore, marked a notable shift in the squad’s composition, particularly given his influence in midfield and contribution to recent achievements.
Concerns over team performance
Abu Shaqir also raised broader concerns about Al-Ittihad’s current form under Conceição, particularly following a goalless draw against Al-Kholoud in the Saudi Pro League.
“The team, under Conceição, is going through a bad technical situation. There are clear errors in the formation. The coach is playing with a defensive identity despite needing to win this match, and the overall performance is beyond comment. The team lacks identity and character, as we can see.”
He further commented on individual performances within the squad: “Moussa Diaby worked relatively hard in the Al-Kholoud match, but I don’t see any significant impact from Al-Ittihad’s foreign players, and Simic’s poor performance doesn’t match his market value at all, while goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic’s level has declined this season.”
The draw left Al-Ittihad in sixth place with 49 points after 31 rounds, as they continue to pursue Al-Taawoun for a higher finish and potential qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off stage.
Key fixtures ahead
The club faces a series of important matches in the closing stages of the season. Al-Ittihad are scheduled to host Damac before travelling to face Al-Ettifaq and Al-Shabab. Their campaign will conclude with a home fixture against Al-Qadisiyah.
Questions remain over direction
Kanté’s exit and the reported tensions with Conceição have added to growing scrutiny surrounding Al-Ittihad’s direction.
With inconsistent results and concerns over team identity, the remainder of the season may prove decisive in shaping both the club’s immediate future and the position of its head coach.
