In a surprising and rapid development of events within Al-Hilal, the club's management made a decisive decision regarding the future of Brazilian professional Marcos Leonardo, just hours before the anticipated match against Al-Ahli in the twentieth round of the Roshan Professional League, which will be held at the "Kingdom Arena" stadium.

Global transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano revealed, via his official account on the "X" platform, behind-the-scenes details of the final hours of the winter transfer window, confirming that intensive and advanced negotiations are underway between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal to finalize the transfer of French star Karim Benzema to the latter's ranks. Romano explained that these negotiations are playing a pivotal role in shaping Al-Hilal's squad for the second half of the season.

Romano indicated that Al-Hilal's management has frozen final approval for Marcos Leonardo's transfer to Atlético Madrid, linking the Brazilian player's departure to the successful signing of Karim Benzema. This move aims to ensure the team doesn't experience a void in attack, especially given the fierce competition for domestic and continental titles.

Al-Hilal's management is striving to strengthen the attacking line with a high-caliber deal involving the former Ballon d'Or winner, in response to the technical staff's wishes and Simeone Inzaghi's recommendations to bolster this sensitive position during the current winter transfer window, to ensure the team continues to deliver its usual performance.

Context and significance of the event in the Saudi League:
These moves are of paramount importance given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, where Al-Hilal seeks to maintain its dominance and widen the gap with its rivals. The transfer of a player of Karim Benzema's caliber between the two Saudi football giants (Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) is an exceptional event that could shift the balance of power in the league and reflects the remarkable dynamism of the Saudi transfer market, which has become a focus of global attention.

Moreover, the interest of a major European club like Atletico Madrid in signing Marcus Leonardo confirms the quality of the choices attracted by Saudi clubs, and shows that the Roshan League is no longer just a final destination for stars, but a competitive gateway that allows players to return to major European clubs, which enhances the market and marketing value of the Saudi League at the international level.

Italian club Roma has completely closed the door on recent speculations about the possibility of Saudi international defender Saud Abdulhamid returning to the Russian Professional League, specifically through his former club Al-Hilal, during the current winter transfer window.

In exclusive statements to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi newspaper, Frederic Massara, the sporting director of AS Roma, put an end to the circulating rumors, confirming the club's commitment to the player's professional career in Europe. Massara stated firmly: "We have not and will not agree to Saud Abdulhamid's departure to the Saudi league at this time. His future is entirely on hold until the end of the current season.".

The context of Al-Hilal's request and the right-back crisis

Saud Abdulhamid's name has been strongly linked with a return to Al-Hilal during the winter transfer window, as a quick and ideal solution to compensate for the anticipated departure of Portuguese player João Cancelo, who is reportedly close to joining FC Barcelona. Al-Hilal's management hoped to bring back Saud due to his extensive experience and familiarity with the team, making him the most suitable option to fill the expected defensive gap without requiring any time to adapt.

Saud shone in the French stadiums

Roma's refusal to cut short the player's loan stems from the stability Saud Abdulhamid is currently enjoying in the French league. He is on loan to French club Lens for one season, where he has secured a regular starting position. Saud's outstanding performances have made him a key player for Lens' coaching staff, making the idea of ​​letting him go mid-season a highly complicated one for the French club from a purely technical standpoint.

The importance of continuing professional careers in Europe

Saud Abdulhamid's professional experience is considered one of the most important milestones in the career of Saudi players abroad. His continued regular participation in the "Big 5" (League of the Major Leagues) reflects a remarkable development in the mentality of Saudi players and their ability to compete at the highest levels. Completing the season with Lens presents Saud with a golden opportunity to gain further competitive experience that will benefit not only his personal career but also the Saudi national team in its upcoming matches.

The Italian decision confirms that European clubs take loan contracts very seriously, and that winter market calculations are not subject to emotions, but to contractual and technical obligations, which means that the file of Saud’s return to Al-Hilal has been completely closed until next summer.

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal, announced the official lineup for the highly anticipated derby match against Al-Ahli, in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. All eyes of football fans are on the Kingdom Arena, which will host this major football clash.

Al-Hilal's official lineup for the match against Al-Ahli

Inzaghi decided to field a strong attacking lineup to secure the three points, and the selected squad was as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou.
• Defense line: Mutaib Al-Harbi, Hassan Tambakti, Kalidou Koulibaly, Theo Hernandez.
• Midfield: Ruben Neves, Sergej Savic, Mohamed Kanno.
• Attackers: Malcolm Philip, Salem Al-Dawsari, Darwin Nunez.

Koulibaly's return and strengthening of the defense

The official lineup for Al-Hilal included welcome news for the club's fans: the return of the solid Senegalese defender, Kalidou Coulibaly, to the starting eleven. Coulibaly's return is a significant boost to the team's defense, as coach Inzaghi is counting on him to neutralize Al-Ahli's attacking threat and secure the defensive areas alongside Hassan Tambakti, especially given the intense rivalry inherent in derby matches.

Al-Hilal's motivations to return to winning ways

Al-Hilal enters this match with one goal in mind: victory. The team is eager to return to winning ways and appease its fans. This determination comes after the team stumbled in the last two rounds, drawing against both Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Riyadh. This makes securing points against Al-Ahli doubly important to ensure they remain strong contenders for the league title and maintain their position at the top of the table.

The importance of El Clásico and its impact on the Roshan League

The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ahli match holds special significance, transcending the mere three-pointer; it represents a Saudi football summit, bringing together two giants of the sport in the Kingdom and the region. Matches between these two teams always garner extensive public and media attention, both locally and internationally, given the presence of world-class and local stars on both sides. The result of this match is considered a crucial indicator of the competitive landscape in the coming weeks of the Roshan League, as Al-Hilal seeks to assert its dominance on its home ground, the Kingdom Arena.