Sparta Captain Haraslín Close to Move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Fateh

Sparta Prague captain Ľubomír Haraslín is in talks to join Saudi club Al-Fateh. The two clubs are already discussing a transfer fee, and the Slovak winger himself has made no secret of his interest in a new challenge.

According to Transfermarkt, Haraslín's market value stands at €6 million — roughly 145 million Czech crowns. By comparison, he joined Sparta four years ago for just a quarter of that sum. Like other Saudi clubs, Al-Fateh is prepared to offer the winger a hefty salary.

A rocky start to the season

Sparta's captain has struggled since the season began. In the 1:3 defeat to Brno, the team fell short, and although they beat Zlín 3:1, Haraslín missed a penalty and generally underperformed by his usual standards.

What raised eyebrows, however, was his absence from the starting lineup in Sparta's crucial Champions League clash against Lyon, where speedy Costa Rican Josimar Alcocer took his spot on the left flank. Head coach Brian Priske admitted the decision to bench his captain wasn't an easy one. "It was a tough discussion, and it's never pleasant to leave your captain on the bench, especially given how important the match was. But part of my job is making difficult calls and sending the right signals," the Sparta boss explained.

A capable stand-in

Alcocer proved he could deliver: against Lyon, he was one of the standout performers on the pitch, even though he wasn't directly involved in any of the goals and had a strike of his own ruled out for offside. The Costa Rican repeatedly got in behind the defence, pressed high, and wore down the opposition with his pace — showing that the left flank, long considered Haraslín's territory, actually suits him better than the right.

That's precisely why the captain's departure could turn out to be a sensible move for the Czech runners-up. Other clubs, including Bratislava's Slovan, have shown interest in the productive winger before, so the current negotiations come as little surprise. Should the deal go through, Haraslín will need to pass a medical examination in Saudi Arabia.

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Source: sport.cz