Liverpool midfielder Fabinho’s proposed move to Al-Ittihad has reportedly been stalled… by the fact that he doesn’t know whether his dogs will be able to make the switch to Saudi Arabia with him.
The 29 year old has agreed a deal to make the move, set to net Liverpool a fee of £40m as part of their major midfield overhaul this summer, joining the likes of Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in leaving Anfield following a disappointing 5th placed finish last season.
However, the deal has hit a stumbling block.
According to the Daily Express, Fabinho is ‘is seeking clarity on the logistics of whether he can take his four-legged family there before penning the contract’.
This comes due to rules about the types of dog allowed in Saudi Arabia, since ‘‘Dangerous and aggressive dogs’ are banned from the country, which includes the likes of PitBulls and Rotweillers.
Fabinho owns two French bulldogs, which could fall into the first category. It is also added that ‘dogs are only allowed to enter [Saudi Arabia] if they are going to be used for hunting, serve as a guard dog or if they are ‘seeing-eye dogs’’.
Al-Ittihad have been one of the busiest sides in the Saudi League this summer, and have already signed French pair Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, who Fabinho will partner in midfield.
They have also added Celtic forward Jota, and are expected to continue strengthening their European contingent before the end of the transfer window.
