Arjun Menon
In one of the most stunning transfer U-turns of the summer, Saudi club Al Nassr have cancelled the signing of Feyenoord vice-captain David Hancko after the deal had already been agreed and signed.
The 27-year-old Slovakian international had not only agreed on personal terms with Al Nassr, but the clubs had also finalised a reported €40 million fee, making Hancko Feyenoord’s most expensive departure in history. The centre-back had even been invited to join the Saudi outfit’s pre-season camp in Austria after an agreement in principle was signed.
But instead of a smooth onboarding, chaos unfolded. Hancko arrived in Austria, stayed in a separate hotel, and was left in the dark while awaiting final confirmation. He was denied access to the team hotel and not allowed to train with the squad. Then, on Tuesday, came the bombshell: Al Nassr pulled the plug on the transfer without explanation.
David Hancko. Source: x.com/TheNassrZone
“Outrageous”
said Feyenoord spokesman Raymond Salomon.
“He had reached an agreement with Al Nassr, and so had Feyenoord. Then they let him come to the training camp, only to tell him he was no longer welcome there suddenly. That’s unprecedented.”
The fallout has been immediate and personal. Hancko had already cancelled the lease on his Rotterdam apartment now vacated and bid farewell to teammates and staff. With the deal off, he’s heading to Feyenoord’s training camp in South Germany, just 90 minutes from Al Nassr’s location. Manager Robin van Persie is said to be ready to welcome his captain back with open arms, offering support as Hancko processes what could be the most gut-wrenching moment of his career.
The ripple effects extend beyond Hancko. Feyenoord had moved quickly to replace him, securing Tsuyoshi Watanabe from AA Gent and entering advanced talks with Middlesbrough for Rav van den Berg. While Watanabe’s transfer remains on track, Van den Berg’s deal has now been shelved following the sudden reversal.
Hancko, a 52-cap international with a contract running through 2028, is back with Feyenoord for now. But this saga may have lasting effects, not just on the player’s psyche but on how clubs approach high-stakes transfers with clubs from emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.