Former Milan and Fiorentina midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura is on the verge of penning a lucrative contract in the Middle East. According to Fabrizio Romano, the veteran playmaker has agreed to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Shabab on a short-term deal and will switch to the desert as a free agent.
The 34-year-old severed his long-term association with Fiorentina at the end of June, leaving the club after his contract ran out. Despite his significance to La Viola’s set-up over the past four years, the versatile midfielder failed to earn a new deal.
Bonaventura will ply his trade outside Italy for the first time in his playing career, with the former Fiorentina captain set to sign a one-year contract at Al-Shabab. He’s the latest European star to embrace the riches of Riyadh.
However, his decision makes perfect sense. Bonaventura, who swapped Milan for Fiorentina in 2020, failed to draw interest from many European clubs, largely thanks to his age. He earned a premium status among club supporters during his four-year stint at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Bonaventura was the centerpiece of Vincenzo Italiano’s midfield, playing a significant role in the club’s deep Europa Conference League runs in the last two seasons. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make his effort count as Fiorentina lost back-to-back finals to West Ham and Olympiacos.
After cutting ties with their long-serving stalwart, Fiorentina turned to Andrea Colpani to fill the void. The 25-year-old has joined La Viola from Monza on a season-long loan.
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