Saudi international star Abdulrahman Ghareeb his silence to settle the controversy circulating in the Saudi sports scene, categorically denying the recent reports about him signing a contract to move to Al-Hilal, the traditional rival of his current club Al-Nassr.

In brief press statements, Gharib confirmed that his professional future has not yet been decided, explaining that the door to negotiations with the management of Al-Nasr Club is still open and in place, and that all options are available to him to study carefully before making the final decision that serves his professional career.

The context of rumors and fierce competition

These statements come at a highly sensitive time, as the Saudi Arabian transfer market is witnessing unprecedented activity. Transfers between Riyadh's two giants, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, have always been a focus of attention for fans and the media, given the long-standing and historic rivalry between the two clubs. Rumors of a potential move to Al-Hilal have sparked widespread concern among Al-Nassr fans, who consider the player a key pillar of their attacking lineup.

The artistic importance of Abdul Rahman Gharib

Abdulrahman Ghareeb is considered one of the most prominent local talents in the Saudi Professional League. Since his rise to prominence with his former club Al-Ahli, and later his move to Al-Nassr, he has proven his worth as a modern winger characterized by speed, exceptional dribbling skills, and playmaking abilities. The issue of renewing his contract or transferring him is of paramount importance, not only at the club level but also for the Saudi national team, as the Green Falcons rely heavily on the readiness of their professional players for upcoming international competitions.

The impact of the anticipated decision on the transfer market

Abdulrahman Ghareeb's final decision, whether to stay at Al-Ahli or embark on a new adventure, will have a significant impact on the Saudi transfer market. With Saudi clubs attracting the brightest stars in world football, the value of talented local players who can secure a starting position and compete with foreign professionals is increasing. Therefore, Al-Nassr's decision to retain the player is a strategic move to maintain team stability, while Al-Hilal and other top clubs are watching closely for any opportunity that might allow them to acquire Ghareeb's services.

In conclusion, the situation remains unclear until an official announcement is made, but Ghareeb’s recent statement has given Al-Nasr fans a dose of reassurance that the player has not turned his back on the club, and that negotiations are underway to reach a mutually agreeable formula that satisfies all parties.

Al-Ittihad's Portuguese manager, Sergio Conceição, has made a tactical decision aimed at maintaining the players' fitness and preventing fatigue. He has decided to give the team a day off from training this Wednesday evening. This decision comes as a strategic move to allow the players to rest before beginning the demanding preparations for tomorrow's match against their arch-rivals, Al-Hilal, in anticipation of the highly anticipated derby.

Al-Ittihad enters the Clasico with sky-high morale, buoyed by their resounding victory on Tuesday night against Qatari side Al-Sadd on their home turf. The "Dean" (Al-Ittihad) thrashed their hosts 4-1 in the final group stage match of the AFC Champions League, a win that confirmed the team's attacking prowess and their ability to handle high-stakes away matches.

Al-Ittihad is scheduled to begin its actual and tactical preparations for the "Clásico" match on Thursday evening, when it will be a formidable guest against Al-Hilal at 10:00 PM on Saturday, as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. This match carries special significance that goes beyond just the three points, given the long-standing and historic rivalry between the two giants of Saudi football.

In terms of the league standings, Al-Ittihad faces a significant challenge to improve its position. Before this match, the team sits in sixth place with 37 points, a position unbecoming of the club's history and the aspirations of its large fan base. This places additional pressure on coach Conceição to achieve a positive result. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal is enjoying its best form, sitting comfortably atop the league table with 53 points. This makes the task difficult, but not impossible, for Al-Ittihad, eager to appease its fans and halt Al-Hilal's winning streak.

Sports fans in the Kingdom and abroad are eagerly awaiting this encounter, as the Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal classic is a prestigious showcase for Saudi football, and it usually witnesses high excitement and competitiveness regardless of the points differences or the two teams' ranking in the league, which makes Conceição's decision to rest the players a pivotal step to ensure full physical and mental readiness to engage in this football battle.

The first football team of Al-Nassr Saudi Club officially secured its qualification to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League 2, after renewing its victory over its guest, the Turkmenistan’s Arkadag, with a score of 1-0, in the match that brought the two teams together on Wednesday evening at the “Al-Awwal Park” stadium in the capital, Riyadh, as part of the second leg of the round of 16 of the continental tournament.

Al-Nassr owes its victory to its star player, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who surprised the visitors with a very early goal in the second minute of the match. He capitalized on a perfectly placed cross, volleying it directly into the net to give his team the lead from the outset. With this result, Al-Nassr confirmed its superiority on aggregate (2-0), having previously won the first leg in Ashgabat by the same score. This sets up a fiery encounter in the next round against its Emirati counterpart, Al-Wasl, in a highly anticipated Gulf derby.

On the technical side, Al-Nassr completely dominated the game, especially in the first half, with their players squandering numerous easy chances to extend their lead. Mohammed Maran nearly added a second goal in the 24th minute, but his shot went just wide of the post. Abdullah Al-Hamdan had a similar opportunity in the 35th minute, before Al-Hamdan unleashed a powerful shot in the 40th minute that was deflected for a corner.

Al-Nasr's bad luck continued into the second half, as the post denied Mohammed Maran's shot in the 56th minute, and Ayman Yahya's powerful shot went just over the crossbar in the 68th minute. The final minutes saw tension from the visiting team, resulting in the referee showing a red card to Arkadag player, Guishmirat Anagoliev, in the 89th minute, leaving the Turkmen team to finish the match with ten players.

This qualification is of great importance to Al-Nasr, which seeks to compete strongly for the title of the first edition of the "AFC Champions League 2" under its new name and system, as the tournament is an ideal opportunity for the team to add a new continental title to its trophy cabinet, benefiting from the constellation of stars that the team includes and the great experience it enjoys in Asian forums.