What happened
Fabrizio Romano reports that Al Ittihad sporting director Ramón Planes is in final-stage talks to terminate his contract by mutual agreement. The former Barcelona director is already weighing proposals from European clubs after his Saudi Pro League stint.
Why it matters
Planes leaves having delivered a league-and-cup double at Al Ittihad, giving him fresh leverage in a European market where sporting-director seats turn over quickly each summer. His exit also signals continued churn in Saudi Pro League front offices as clubs reassess their post-boom recruitment models.
What to watch
Watch for the official termination announcement from Al Ittihad and the first concrete European link, with Spanish and Italian clubs the most plausible landing spots given his background.