Asharq Al-Awsat has learned from informed sources that Al-Ittifaq club lost the chance to sign Moroccan midfielder Mohammed Harimat, the best player in the previous Arab Cup tournament, after negotiations stalled due to a difference in the evaluation of the deal's value.

According to the same sources, the Recruitment Committee estimated the appropriate value for signing the player at no more than $1.5 million, which prevented the completion of the deal, while Qatari club Al-Shamal succeeded in securing Harimat's signing with a contract worth more than $2.5 million.

Al-Ittifaq had included Harimat among its options to strengthen the team during the summer transfer period, but the financial evaluation gap between what the Recruitment Committee approved and what the player and his representatives requested led to the club exiting the race for the signing, before Qatari Al-Shamal sealed the deal in its favor.