Former Ittihad Jeddah ace Francesco Lima signed a loan deal with Nassr club until the end of the season, Saudi daily Al-Watan reported Monday.

The Brazilian star had originally signed for Ittihad to play in their Club World Championship (CWC) campaign in Japan but stumbled across FIFA regulations and had been sidelined ever since, the paper added.

Ittihad president Mansour Al-Balawi, who gave Nassr the player, insisted on taking care of all of Lima’s financial issues.

“My contract with Ittihad is three years long, but I have gathered enough information on Nassr and Saudi football in general from my teammate Chiko,” Lima said.

Ittihad were put in a tight spot after signing three Brazilian players for their CWC campaign and then having to sideline them according to a FIFA decision.

The Asian champions still have to figure out something for Brazilian duo Marcao and Pedrinho.