The proposed move of World Cup-winning France midfielder N'Golo Kante to Saudi club Al-Ittihad is being stymied by medical difficulties. A club source told AFP on Thursday.

Kante, 32, has a history of injuries and missed the first six months of Chelsea's Premier League season due to a hamstring injury.

According to an Al-Ittihad source, Kante has signed a binding agreement, but the club is waiting for the results of medical tests before finalizing the deal.


PHOTO | COURTESY Kante

On Tuesday, the club in Jeddah presented 35-year-old French Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema as their greatest acquisition in history.

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"Kante signed a binding agreement, not a final contract," according to the source.

"We are still reviewing the results of the medical examination." He has a long history of injuries, and we want to be cautious before committing to him.

Benzema follows the January signing of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr in a deal worth more than 400 million euros ($431 million).

According to a source close to the negotiations, Benzema and Kante are among roughly ten targets Saudi officials have contacted.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kante

On Wednesday, Argentina's Lionel Messi said he had turned down a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia to join MLS club Inter Miami.

This comes when Messi is set to move to Miami for the major league. The 35-year-old Argentine forward has spent the last two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, where he will play his final game on Saturday, after moving from Barcelona in 2021, where he spent most of his career.

MLS and Inter Miami verified the news on social media, while the American league stated that "work remains to be completed to finalize a formal agreement."