Asharq Al-Awsat learned from informed sources that Al-Ettifaq club lost the opportunity to sign Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Harimat, the best player in the last 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 the signing of Harimat with a contract worth more than $2.5 million.

Al-Ettifaq had included Harimat among its options to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window, but the difference in financial valuation between what the recruitment committee approved and what the player and his representatives requested led to the club's exit from the race to sign him, before Qatari Al-Shamal sealed the deal in its favor.