Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Thursday, June 11, 2026, 10:01 am / Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026 10:15 am
The crucial 24 hours prove to be long in Thessaloniki. The announced decisive discussion between Răzvan Lucescu and the management of PAOK has not yet taken place, and the Romanian coach's contacts with Al-Sadd are contradicted by people close to him. However, the Greek press believes that the termination clause will be paid, and Lucescu will return to the Gulf.
As the daily newspaper Metrosport writes today, the amount of 4 million euros, representing the termination clause of the agreement with PAOK due in 2027will not be a problem at all for Al-Sadd, so Răzvan Lucescu's departure seems closer than ever.
Even if the fans who voted in the newspaper poll believe that, in proportion to 58%, the Romanian coach will stay in Thessaloniki, and sources from the “Commander's” entourage deny that there are negotiations with Al-Sadd, the Greeks write that there will be no way back.
“Răzvan Lucescu will leave PAOK. In fact, he would have sold to Al Sadd!”
“To reach a solution, one way or another, the majority shareholder of the club will have to speak directly to the coach. It turned out that when everyone else speaks for the two of them, it creates a major problem within the club.
Gică Hagi, together with Răzvan Lucescu and Ciprian Marica
People very close to PAOK (without reference to administrative representatives who did not hold a public position) claim that “Răzvan Lucescu will leave PAOK. In fact, he would have sold to the Qatari team!”writes Metrosport.gr.
On Wednesday evening, the Italian mercato specialist Gianluca Di Marzio announced on the X network that Răzvan Lucescu “is in negotiations with Al-Sadd to replace Roberto Mancini on the technical bench, who will leave for the Italian national team”.
The group from Qatar relies on the experience and results obtained by the Romanian coach in Gulf football. During 2019-2021, Lucescu junior trained Al-Hilal and conquered the Asian Champions League, one of the most important performances of his career.
