Multichampion Nacho chooses Al-Ittihad over MLS and surprises the market
Nacho, a multi-time champion with Real Madrid, has changed his plans regarding his next club this summer. The defender left the Blancos and was set on moving to the United States to play in Major League Soccer (MLS). He had this desire since the beginning of the last European season.
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It is not known which MLS team he would have joined, but his plans have changed. It now appears that Nacho will play for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. This is surprising, as MLS teams were considered the front-runners to sign the Spaniard.
The 34-year-old, who has been with Real Madrid since childhood, will sign a lucrative two-year contract with the Saudi team. Nacho, who wanted to live in the United States, opted for the wealthy contract with Al-Ittihad, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, a transfer market specialist.
He will reunite with his former teammate, Karim Benzema. Perhaps the decision to form a new partnership with the Frenchman influenced his choice. According to the Spanish press, the defender will earn 20 million euros, significantly higher than the 8.54 million euros he earned at Real Madrid.
Obviously, the defender could have contributed to one of the 29 MLS teams, especially since he recognizes the importance of the group, never complaining about not being a regular starter at Real Madrid but always being there when the team needed him. One thing is certain: it is not MLS that has lost out, but the defender who missed the chance to play in a more competitive league that is gaining increasing visibility on the international stage.