Al Ahli Jeddah have vociferously rallied against star forward Djaniny’s complaint to FIFA about unpaid wages and desire to annul his contract.

Djaniny, 29, has struck an excellent 28 times in 43 Saudi Professional League matches since July 2018’s €10 million switch from Mexico’s Santos Laguna. The Cape Verde international, however, may have already played his last game for the club.

MBC News stated a request was sent to make him a free agent because of his lack of consent about the 50-per-cent salary deduction applied after training and games were paused in the Saudi top flight on March 14 because of coronavirus. FIFA regulations state that a deal can be terminated with just cause if “at least two monthly salaries” are not paid on time, a position Ahli argue does not apply to their missing employee.

“Al Ahli club management confirms that it has paid all financial dues for Djaniny during the regular period, and it is absolutely not the correct accumulation of salaries for a player that permits annulment of his contract with the club,” said the side who sit fourth ahead of 2019/20’s resumption versus Al Hazem on August 4.

“The administration explained that the player’s overdue dues are just one month’s salary (June), indicating we are committed and eager, with all care, to pay all salaries and dues to our players.

“Club management confirmed that it will take all measures within a statutory legal capacity required to preserve contractual rights with the player and all players contracted to the club.”

MBC state that Djaniny’s position is further weakened as 80 per cent of the Ahli squad concurred to the temporary reduction, via email. This is, they argue, past the 75-per-cent threshold dictated by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Djaniny’s agent, Pedro Cordeiro, has informed Arriyadiyah his client does not currently have a contract and can sign with any club.