Al-Najma Saudi Club is very close to acquiring the services of Nabil Emad "Dunga", the midfielder of the first football team of Zamalek Egyptian Club, during the current winter transfer period, in a deal that may be one of the most prominent transfers in the Yellow Division League.

Dunga received a formal and serious offer to join Al-Najma, and the player expressed his initial agreement to the offer and his desire to embark on a new professional experience in Saudi stadiums, which prompted the Saudi club's management to accelerate the pace of negotiations.

Negotiations have continued and intensified over the past few hours between the management of the two clubs, Zamalek and Al-Najma, in order to finalize the last details of the deal and agree on the financial compensation and all contractual details before the registration window closes.

The registration crisis and Zamalek's difficult situation

Zamalek is experiencing a delicate administrative and technical situation. The team is suffering from a transfer ban imposed by international regulations, which has led the management to refuse, in principle, to release the core of the squad due to the difficulty of replacing them with new players at present. However, Nabil Emad Donga's insistence on pursuing the opportunity and the pressure he exerted proved decisive in the flexibility recently shown by the Egyptian club's management, who may find in the financial offer a way out of some of their accumulated financial difficulties.

Dunga's career and his artistic significance

Nabil Emad Donga is considered one of the most prominent defensive midfielders in Egyptian football in recent years. He joined Zamalek from Pyramids FC in a big-money deal and quickly established himself as a key player in the "White Knights'" lineup thanks to his exceptional physical abilities, ball-winning skills, and ability to build attacks from the back. His potential departure presents a tactical challenge for Zamalek's coaching staff, who rely heavily on him to control the midfield.

Al-Najma's ambitions in the Saudi League

On the other hand, Al-Najma Club is seeking to bolster its ranks with experienced international players capable of making a significant technical contribution, as part of the club's ambition to compete strongly in the Saudi First Division League (Yellow League) and attempt promotion to the Saudi Professional League. This potential deal is part of the significant sporting activity taking place in Saudi Arabia, which aims to attract stars from various Arab and international leagues to raise the level of competition at all levels.

Al-Ahli's head coach, Matthias Jäissle, has revealed the official lineup for the highly anticipated derby match against Al-Hilal, 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-Ahli's official lineup for the Al-Hilal match

German coach Yasle decided to field his strongest lineup to secure the match points, relying on the following players:

• Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy.
• Defense line: Ali Majrashi, Roger Ibanez, Rayan Hamed, Zakaria Hawsawi.
• Midfield: Franck Kessie, Valentin Atangana, Enzo Melo.
• Attack line: Riyad Mahrez, Wenderson Galeno, Ivan Toni.

Significant absences and technical decisions

The squad list saw the absence of Turkish defender Merih Demiral from the derby match, with his exclusion being a firm tactical decision by coach Matias Jääsle. The coaching staff attributed this decision to the player's lack of full technical and physical readiness for a match of this magnitude and competitive intensity, preferring to rely on the duo of Ibañez and Rayan Hamed in central defense to secure the back line against Al-Hilal's potent attack.

A morale boost and the context of competition

Al-Ahli enters this match with extremely high morale, drawing strength from their outstanding performance in the previous round. They secured a resounding 4-0 victory against Al-Ettifaq at Al-Inma Stadium, a strong indication of the readiness of their attacking line, led by Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toni.

The importance and impact of El Clásico

The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Hilal match carries special significance that transcends the mere three points; it represents a historic rivalry between two giants of Saudi football. This match comes at a crucial juncture in the league, as Al-Ahli seeks to solidify its position at the top of the table and close the gap with the league leaders. Furthermore, playing at the Kingdom Arena, one of the world's most modern stadiums, adds a unique dimension to the encounter, increasing the pressure on the players to deliver their best performance in front of the massive crowd.

Ysele is relying heavily on the midfield battle led by Ivorian Franck Kessie to control the tempo, in addition to the great speeds that Wenderson Galeno and Riyad Mahrez possess on the wings to hit the opponent's defenses, in an attempt to achieve a victory that will constitute an important turning point in the team's journey this season.

Barcelona's coaching staff, led by German manager Hansi Flick, suffered another blow with the official announcement that Brazilian star Rafinha has sustained a muscle injury that will force him to be sidelined temporarily. The Catalan club explained in its medical statement that the player is suffering from "strain in the adductor muscle of his right leg," which necessitates a week of rest as a precautionary measure to prevent further injury, especially given the congested fixture schedule.

Critical timing and a history of injuries

This injury comes at a very sensitive time for the Catalan team, as Rafinha will miss tomorrow's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Albacete. The Brazilian winger felt pain that forced him to leave the field in the second half of the last league match against Elche, which Barcelona won 3-1. Concerns are growing within the club given the player's recent medical history. He only recently returned from a two-month absence due to a hamstring injury, which included two setbacks. This has led the medical staff to handle the current situation very cautiously to avoid another prolonged absence.

Flick's anger and Rafinha's tactical importance

Hansi Flick made no secret of his frustration with the recurring injury woes plaguing the team, stating clearly in the press conference: "I'm not happy about this at all, because he's a very important player for us. We have to see what we need to change." Rafinha's importance lies not only in his role as an attacking winger, but also as an indispensable tactical element in the high-pressing system implemented by the German coach. Statistics clearly demonstrate his impact, as Barcelona has not lost a single match in which the Brazilian star has started this season, presenting the coach with a difficult challenge in finding the right formula to compensate for this significant absence.

A high-risk encounter in the King's Cup

Tomorrow's match carries added significance, going beyond simply being a stepping stone to the semi-finals. The Copa del Rey holds historical importance for Barcelona, ​​the most decorated club in the competition's history, and maintaining their chances in the tournament is a top priority. Adding to the challenge is the identity of their opponent: Albacete, who have become the tournament's dark horse after stunning their arch-rivals Real Madrid in the round of 16. Flick commented, warningly: "That's why we love cup matches, because sometimes they produce unexpected results. They have nothing to lose." Barcelona's players know that underestimating the "Killer of Real Madrid" could prove costly.

Koundé's return and Ter Stegen's shock

Amidst this tense atmosphere, training brought some good news: French defender Jules Koundé returned to full training after recovering from the muscle strain he suffered in the Elche match, bolstering the team's defensive options. However, adding to the team's woes, the sports world received unfortunate news regarding German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, currently on loan at Girona. He suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for approximately two months. Flick expressed his full support for his former goalkeeper, especially since ter Stegen has only made two appearances for Girona since his January transfer, adding another chapter of hardship for the veteran goalkeeper.