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.

German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of Al-Ahli's first football team, officially announced the starting lineup for the highly anticipated and fiery 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 derby, in a footballing clash promising plenty of excitement and fierce competition.

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

Yasle decided to play his strongest hand in this crucial match, and the selected lineup is as follows:

• 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 strong preparations

In a related development, it has been confirmed that Turkish defender Merih Demiral will miss this crucial match for Al-Ahli. Demiral's exclusion was a tactical decision by coach Mathias Jäsle, who preferred not to risk the player as he has not yet reached the required level of physical and technical readiness for such high-tempo and highly competitive matches in the Roshan League.

Al-Ahli enters this match with extremely high morale after achieving a resounding and well-deserved victory in the previous round against Al-Ettifaq. That match, held at Al-Inma Stadium, ended in a dominant 4-0 win for Al-Ahli, providing a strong indication of the readiness of the team's attacking lineup, led by Algerian star Riyad Mahrez and English striker Ivan Tony.

The importance of El Clásico and its impact on the league

The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Hilal match holds immense strategic importance that transcends the mere three points; it represents a historic rivalry between two giants of Saudi football. This "Clásico" enjoys widespread popularity not only locally but also regionally and internationally, given the presence of world-renowned players on both teams, reflecting the remarkable development of the Saudi Professional League.

Al-Ahli, through this strong attacking lineup, seeks to impose its style from the first minutes, and to try to break Al-Hilal’s dominance on its home ground, in order to strengthen its position in the standings and compete strongly for the advanced positions, taking advantage of the distinguished technical condition that its midfield is going through under the leadership of Ivorian Franck Kessie.

The coaching staff of Al-Nassr FC decided to exclude the team's captain, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, from the squad called up for the match against Al-Riyadh FC, a move that has sparked questions from fans and sports media. This decision comes at a crucial time in the Saudi Professional League, as Al-Nassr aims to continue accumulating points and compete for the top spot in the standings.

The reason for Ronaldo's absence from the mini-Riyadh derby

According to sources close to Al-Nassr, the decision to exclude "Madeira Rocket" was based on the technical staff's assessment and in coordination with the medical team. This was done to give the player some rest or because he wasn't 100% fit for the match. This strategy aims to protect the player's health and prepare him for upcoming major matches, both in domestic and continental competitions, especially given the recent congested fixture schedule the team has faced.

The context of the competition in the Saudi Roshan League

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Riyadh match holds special significance, not only because it's a "mini-derby" between two Riyadh-based teams, but also because Al-Nassr is currently in a crucial phase where dropping any points is essential to remaining in the fierce competition with their arch-rivals Al-Hilal and the other competing clubs. Al-Nassr occupies a high position in the league standings, making every match a cup final, and any slip-up could complicate their title aspirations.

The impact of Ronaldo's absence on the team

There is no doubt that the absence of a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's stature and value casts a shadow on the team's technical and morale performance. Ronaldo is not just the league's top scorer; he is the leader and the primary driving force behind the attacking system. However, Al-Nassr possesses a squad of international and local stars capable of compensating for this absence, such as Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca, who bear the responsibility of leading the attack and dismantling Al-Riyadh's compact defense.

Regional and global importance of the event

Since Ronaldo joined the Saudi League, Al-Nassr's news has captured global attention. The Portuguese star's absence from any match immediately becomes fodder for the international press, reflecting the soft power and significant impact of the Saudi sports project. This global interest puts positive pressure on the rest of Al-Nassr's players to prove their worth and ability to win and deliver entertaining performances even in the absence of the team's icon, thus enhancing the strength and competitiveness of the Saudi League as a whole.