Varsha
The Saudi Pro League has made another headline-grabbing signing as Mateo Retegui, last season’s Serie A top scorer, departs Atalanta in a blockbuster €80m deal to join Al-Qadsiah. Retegui replaces the prolific Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the ambitious Saudi club, signing a four-year contract and aiming to build on his dazzling Italian campaign.
Transfer Details & Background
- Transfer Fee: €80 million (reported, various sources confirm €65m–€80m range).
- From/To: Atalanta (Italy) → Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia)
- Contract: 4 years (2025–2029)
- Replacement For: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (now departed, scored 17 league goals).
- Reason for Move: Al-Qadsiah targeting firepower for title ambitions after placing fourth last season.
Mateo Retegui’s 2024-25 Serie A Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 36 |
| Goals | 25 (Serie A Golden Boot) |
| Assists | 10 |
| Goals per 90 mins | 0.94 |
| Home/Away Goals | 10 / 15 |
| Hat-tricks | 2 |
| Total Goal Involvement (G+A) | 33 |
| Minutes per Goal | 96 |
| National Team (Italy) | 20 caps, 6 goals |
Retegui propelled Atalanta to a third-place finish and leaves Serie A as both the league leader in goals and a rising international with Italy, whom he has represented since 2023.
Al-Qadsiah 2025/26 Squad: Key Players
Al-Qadsiah boast an exciting, international squad for the new campaign, which now includes Retegui leading the attack. Here’s a snapshot of their current player list:
Goalkeepers
- Koen Casteels (Belgium)
- Abdulaziz Rahma (Saudi Arabia)
- Ahmed Al-Kassar (Saudi Arabia)
Defenders
- Nacho (Spain)
- Gastón Álvarez (Uruguay)
- Mohammed Al Shammari (Saudi Arabia)
- Jehad Thikri (Saudi Arabia)
- Mohammed Qasem (Saudi Arabia)
- Qassem Lajami (Saudi Arabia)
Midfielders
- Cameron Puertas (Spain)
- Nahitan Nández (Uruguay)
- Ezequiel Fernández (Argentina)
- Turki Al-Ammar (Saudi Arabia)
- Hussain Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia)
- Ali Abdullah Hazzazi (Saudi Arabia)
Forwards
- Mateo Retegui (Italy/Argentina)
- Julián Quiñones (Mexico)
- Iker Almena (Spain)
- Abdulaziz Al Othman (Saudi Arabia)
- Haitham Asiri (Saudi Arabia)
- Guga (Brazil)
Notable Departures: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon).
Al-Qadsiah’s Upcoming Matches: Saudi Pro League 2025/26
Stay tuned for these confirmed opening fixtures as Al-Qadsiah integrate Retegui into their lineup:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2025 | Al Okhdood | Away | 4:00 p.m. |
| August 3, 2025 | Al Taawoun | Home | 6:10 p.m. |
| August 10, 2025 | Al Ettifaq | Home | 1:00 p.m. |
(Fixtures are subject to change ahead of the full league announcement.)
Looking Ahead
With Retegui on board, Al-Qadsiah are positioning themselves as Saudi Pro League contenders, both domestically and on the wider Asian football stage. All eyes will be on the Italian forward as he seeks to maintain his golden touch in a new league and continue his goal-scoring exploits for club and country.
