In a move reflecting Al-Ittihad’s new direction towards attracting promising young talents from major European leagues, French striker George Ellyninka, who recently joined the “Dean” from Monaco during the winter transfer window, revealed the behind-the-scenes details that preceded his signing of the contract, and the pivotal role played by his former teammate in convincing him to embark on this new experience in the Saudi Professional League.

Speaking in a video posted on Al-Ittihad's official accounts, Ilyinkina expressed his immense happiness at the warm welcome he received upon arriving in Jeddah. The young striker said, "Thank you so much for the welcome. Everything was excellent, and I was received wonderfully, both in the locker room and with the players and the coach. I'm very happy with this positive atmosphere surrounding the team.".

Mamadou Doumbia's role in the deal

In a fascinating account of his transfer, Elinikna revealed that his teammate Mamadou Doumbia was the "key" to finalizing the deal. He stated, "I spoke a lot with Mamadou Doumbia, and before I came here, he explained the details of the club's sporting project, the playing style, the coach's personality, and how training works. All those details convinced me to take the step of coming here, and I'm very happy with this choice.".

The French striker added, explaining the depth of his relationship with Doumbia: "As I said, I have a very good relationship with him. We played together at Royal Antwerp in Belgium a year before he came here and before I moved to Monaco. Honestly, he only told me good things about the club. I asked him a lot of questions and he was honest with me. He assured me that the club is excellent, that the project is strong and ambitious, and that the coach has great confidence in young players. This approach is what decided my decision to come.".

The context of the transfer and the challenges of replacing Benzema

The signing of George Ellienkina comes at a crucial time for Al-Ittihad, as the team seeks to bolster its attack and inject fresh energy into the forward line, especially after the significant changes to the squad and the departure of veteran French striker Karim Benzema to Al-Hilal, according to the report. This transfer places a heavy responsibility on Ellienkina to fill the attacking void and provide the desired technical contribution.

This signing reflects a strategic shift in the recruitment policies of major Saudi clubs, as the focus is no longer solely on established stars, but has expanded to include promising young talents in Europe. This enhances the league's market value and ensures the sustainability of its competitiveness for years to come. Thanks to his young age and experience in the French and Belgian leagues, Ilyinikina is expected to be a cornerstone of Al-Ittihad's future project to compete for domestic and continental titles.

The first football team of Al-Ahli Club, under the technical leadership of the young German coach Matthias Jäissle, continued its impressive series of results during the current season of the Saudi Professional League, after it managed to achieve a valuable and well-deserved victory with two goals to nil against its guest, Al-Hazm team, in the match that brought them together on Thursday evening as part of the competitions of the twenty-first (21) round of the competition.

A historic achievement in Al-Raed's stronghold

The three points weren't Al-Ahli's only gain; the team also achieved a historic milestone, a testament to the coaching staff and players. This victory marks Al-Ahli's seventh consecutive home win in front of their fans, a first in the club's history in the Saudi Professional League. This record reflects the strong character instilled in the team by coach Matthias Jäissle, transforming Al-Ahli's stadium into an impregnable fortress where opponents struggle to secure a positive result.

The battle for the top spot and position in the standings

With this crucial victory over Al-Hazm, Al-Ahli raised their points tally to 47, temporarily climbing to second place in the Roshan League standings and closing the gap on their rivals. They are now just one point behind Al-Nassr, who have a game in hand, and three points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, intensifying the competition at the top of the table and confirming Al-Ahli's determination to seriously contend for the title this season.

A consistent career and impressive statistics for Yssel

Al-Ahly is progressing steadily and thoughtfully this season, as the numbers reflect the great technical work; the team has succeeded in achieving (14) victories out of (20) matches played so far, while it drew in (5) matches and suffered only one loss, making it one of the teams with the fewest defeats in the league.

Al Ahli had signed the 37-year-old German coach during the 2023/24 season, following a successful stint with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. Since taking over, Jacele has led Al Ahli in 117 matches across all competitions, achieving 76 wins, 19 draws, and 22 losses.

Integrated sports project

Yassle’s success is not limited to local numbers only, but his influence has extended to major achievements, as the German coach succeeded in leading the team to win the AFC Champions League and the Saudi Super Cup (according to the context of the news), which confirms the success of the club’s sports project in relying on the modern German school of training, which relies on high pressure and direct play, which restored Al-Ahli’s prestige locally and continentally.

In a surprising development that sparked widespread controversy in Saudi and international sports circles, the famous Italian journalist and transfer market expert, Fabrizio Romano, revealed the real reasons behind the absence of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo from his team Al-Nassr's anticipated match against their traditional rival Al-Ittihad.

Romano confirmed via his official X account on Thursday evening that Ronaldo's exclusion from the "Clásico" squad was not due to the usual reasons that might come to mind. He clarified categorically that the absence was not related to any disagreements or problems with the coaching staff, led by the manager, or with the club's management. He also denied any muscle injury or physical problem that would prevent the "Madeira Rocket" from participating.

The reliable journalist wrote: "Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Al-Nassr's upcoming match against Al-Ittihad on Friday, as announced here last Monday. There are no issues with Al-Nassr's coaching or administrative staff, no injuries, and no physical problems." This statement added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation, especially since Ronaldo had recently missed group training sessions without official explanation, before appearing in Wednesday evening's training session, which gave fans hope of his participation before his absence was confirmed.

The importance of El Clásico and the impact of absence

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense historical and popular significance, as this "classic" encounter is considered a cornerstone of Saudi and Middle Eastern football. This match comes at a crucial time, with Al-Nassr striving to maintain their pursuit of the top spot, while Al-Ittihad aims to improve their position in the standings. The absence of a star of Ronaldo's caliber, the team's all-time leading scorer and captain, casts a shadow not only on Al-Nassr's attacking prowess but also on the media and fan buzz surrounding the match, which is eagerly anticipated by millions worldwide.

Looking at the Portuguese star's statistics this season, the expected impact of his absence becomes clear. The 41-year-old, despite his age, remains a key player in the team. He has participated in 22 matches for Al-Nassr across all competitions this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists for his teammates, totaling 1917 minutes of play, making him the team's most decisive element.

The battle for the top spot and the league standings

Al-Nassr enters this match in second place in the Roshan Professional League standings with 46 points, just one point behind league leaders Al-Hilal. A victory in this game is therefore crucial to maintaining their title challenge. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad sits in sixth place with 34 points and is striving to return to the top four.

The match hosted by Al-Nasr is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 pm on Friday, as part of the (21) round competitions, amid great anticipation of how Al-Nasr's technical staff will deal with this significant absence in one of the most important matches of the season.