FIGO SEALS SAUDI SWITCH
Luis Figo is set to join Al Ittihad after the Saudi Arabian club's team manager Hamad Al Sanie confirmed a deal has been agreed.
The former FIFA World Player of the Year will put pen to paper over the next couple of days on a 17-month contract, according to Al Sanie, after deciding to leave Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
"It's official now," Al Sanie told PA Sport. "Figo will sign Friday or Saturday and he'll arrive in Jeddah on January 5 when he'll join the team."
Snaring a player of Figo's calibre will be an enormous coup for Middle Eastern football. "We chose Figo because he's a big star and the coach of the team (Dmitri Davidovic) asked us to look for a midfielder and, after we suggested Figo to the coach, he welcomed the idea.
"The contract of Figo will be for 17 months but the fee is not disclosed." Al Ittihad are historically one of the most successful teams in Saudi Arabia and are based in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.
Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad claim to have reached an agreement on a 17-month contract with the playmaker, who struggled to hold down a regular first team place at Internazionale.
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Luis Figo factfile 1972 - Born on November 4, 1972 in Almada district of Lisbon.
1984 - Joins Sporting Lisbon as an 11-year-old.
1989 - Makes debut for Sporting Lisbon.
1991 - Part of the Portugal Under-21 side that retains the World Youth Cup - the team also featuring Rui Costa and Fernando Couto is known as the "golden generation". Later that year he makes his debut against Luxembourg for the senior team.
1995 - Joins Barcelona in a £4.2million deal where he quickly becomes a hero with the Nou Camp faithful.
1997 - Wins Copa del Rey with Barca.
1998 - Wins Primera Liga title with Barca and the Copa del Rey.
1999 - Retains La Liga with Barca.
2000 - Construction mogul Florentino Perez promises Real Madrid fans that Figo will move from hated rivals Barca to the Bernabeu if he is elected president. Perez defeats incumbent Lorenzo Sanz and duly delivers his promise for a world record £37million fee to the fury of the Barca fans who once idolised him.
Stars for Portugal as they reach Euro 2000 semi-finals before being knocked out by France with a golden goal penalty.
Voted European Footballer of the Year.
2001 - Wins Primera Liga with Real Madrid. He is named FIFA World Player of the Year.
2002 - Figo makes first appearance for Real at the Nou Camp and is targeted by unruly Barcelona fans. While taking a corner, numerous missiles are thrown onto the pitch, including a pig's head. Real and Figo go on to win Champions League as well as Intercontinental Cup. Portugal have dismal World Cup and are knocked out in group phase.
2003 - Real win Primera Liga again.
2004 - Figo plays for Portugal in Euro 2004 and helps them reach the final where they lose to Greece.
Retires from international football after the defeat, having scored 31 goals in 110 appearances for his country.
2005 - Comes out of international retirement to play for Portugal in World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Estonia in June, taking the captain's armband.
Linked heavily with a move to European Champions Liverpool in July, with manager Rafael Benitez admitting he would like to sign him.
Signs for Internazionale on August 5.
2006 - Impressed at World Cup in Germany as Portugal reached the semi-finals before losing to France.
