The Iraqi international Ali Jassim, a player loaned to Al-Najma Saudi Club from Italian club Como, has sparked a wide debate and discussion among Iraqi and Saudi football fans over the past few days due to his absence from his team's training despite the end of his participation with the Iraqi national team in the match against Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Ali Jassim, 22 years old, was part of the Iraqi national team delegation that played against Bolivia in early April during the intercontinental playoff held in Mexico, as part of the journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. After the match, the player returned with the Lions of Mesopotamia delegation to Iraq to participate in the honoring ceremony held yesterday in the city of Basra.

The ceremony witnessed a large crowd at the Basra International Stadium, where the national team players were honored and given plots of land in the city, in addition to naming a street in Basra after the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' in appreciation of their contributions. This national commitment delayed Jassim's return to Al-Najma's training, raising questions about his status with the Saudi club.

Amid rumors about the potential early termination of his relationship with Al-Najma, a source close to the club revealed in an exclusive statement to 'winwin' that Ali Jassim is in constant communication with Al-Najma's management and the team's technical staff, confirming that his absence was with the coach's approval and an official leave from the club.

The source added, "There is absolutely no truth to the rumors about the end of the player's association with the team at this time. Ali Jassim respects his contract and will continue with Al-Najma until the end of his loan period from Como, Italy, which is set for June 30."

The same source indicated that the player will depart for Saudi Arabia the day after tomorrow, Monday, to be at the disposal of the technical staff immediately and start preparations with his teammates. The goal is to prepare Jassim to be present for Al-Najma's important match against Al-Taawoun next Thursday in the Saudi Roshn League, where the club hopes to leverage his abilities to escape the specter of relegation.

Al-Najma is going through a complicated period this season, as they are at the bottom of the Roshn League standings with only 8 points, despite Jassim's 21 appearances in the league, during which he scored 4 goals, in addition to two matches in the King's Cup. The player's return is considered a moral and technical boost for the team seeking a lifeline in the remaining rounds.

Jassim had joined the Iraqi national team delegation before the Bolivia match, departing from Baghdad to Amman and then to Mexico for the playoff, and was supposed to return immediately after the match, but the honoring commitments delayed that in coordination with his club.