Marca report: Amine Harit to Villarreal transfer broke down on deadline day
Spanish sporting daily "Marca" reports that a deal to send Schalke attacking midfielder Amine Harit to Villarreal fell through on deadline day.
As the dust settles on January 2021's transfer deadline day in Europe, news of some of the failed deals begins to leak out. Germany's relegation-threatened Königsblauen apparently came close to seeing Moroccan midfielder Amine Harit to La Liga in the final hours.
Harit, along with fellow North African Nabil Bentaleb, were suspended earlier in the season following a training ground dust up with former coach Manuel Baum. Marco reports that Harit had acceded to a short-term loan arrangement, but the German club changed its mind and demanded an outright purchase near the end.
With a full transfer not being feasible for Spain's "El Submarino Amarillio", the 23-year-old remains on the Schalke roster. Bentaleb, who is said to have attracted the interest of several Serie A clubs during the window, also stays in Gelsenkirchen. New trainer Christian Groß has already stated that he has no plans to use the Algerian.
The third player involved in the confrontation with head-coach Baum, veteran striker Vedad Ibisevic, was also not signed by anyone on deadline day. This does not mean that the Bundesliga veteran won't play for another club this season. As a free agent, the Bosnian can join any club at any time.
Ibisevic saw his contract preemptively terminated after the dispute with Baum. Multiple German media sources then reported that the new coaching regime later approached him about a return to the club. The 36-year-old, who had agreed to a meager salary that he ended up donating, then rejected the club saying he could no longer play uncompensated.