Otávio, the Portuguese midfielder, is set for a fresh start in Saudi Arabia. He will soon trade Al Nassr for Al Qadsiah. This move comes after he was left out of coach Jorge Jesus’s plans. News from the region confirms that the clubs have reached an agreement. This deal has been brewing for many weeks.
The 31-year-old was sidelined by Jorge Jesus at the very beginning of the pre-season. Since then, many possible destinations surfaced for the player. There was even talk of him returning to Brazil, where he played before 2014. That year, he first moved to Europe to join Vitória de Guimarães.
However, the former FC Porto star decided to stay in the Saudi league. He chose to bolster Al Qadsiah, a team with big ambitions. They want to challenge for the title. While exact financial details remain private, Saudi reports state the deal is sealed. Otávio is expected to sign a two-year contract. The path for him opened up on Friday. That’s when Al Qadsiah announced the departure of Spaniard Iker Almena to Hajduk Split. This move made room for a new international player.
Otávio first came to Al Nassr in the summer of 2023. His transfer from FC Porto cost the club a hefty €60 million. In his two seasons there, he played 84 matches. He scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists for his teammates.