The past few hours have witnessed exciting developments in the winter transfer market in Saudi Arabia, as Al-Diriyah club officials have entered the race to sign international star Abdul-Ilah Al-Malki, the midfielder of Al-Hilal club, in order to strengthen the team’s ranks during the coming period.
According to informed sources for “Al-Midan Al-Riyadi”, the management of Al-Diriyah Club has shown great seriousness in finalizing the deal, as it seeks to take advantage of the current winter transfer period to secure the player’s services, based on a technical recommendation from the team’s coach, who sees Al-Maliki as a great qualitative addition to the midfield, in line with the club’s ambitions to compete and advance.
Two-way conflict and player position
The road to Al-Diriyah doesn't appear to be easy, as the same sources confirmed strong interest from Al-Shabab in acquiring Abdulilah Al-Malki's services. Intensive negotiations are currently underway between the parties involved, with the player carefully considering the offers before making his final decision. This move comes after Al-Malki fell out of favor with Al-Hilal's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, who prefers other players in the midfield position, making the player's departure in search of more playing time a logical step.
Event context: Diriyah's ambition and promotion project
Al-Diriyah Club's interest in signing a player of Abdulilah Al-Malki's caliber and experience comes within the context of the significant transformation the club is undergoing, which aligns with the tremendous development of the Diriyah project as a global cultural and tourist destination. The club, currently in the Yellow League (First Division), aims to build a strong team capable of promotion to the Roshan Professional League, and signing an international player with World Cup experience and experience playing for major clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal sends a clear message about the seriousness of the club's sporting project.
Player background and the importance of the deal
Abdulilah Al-Malki is considered one of the most prominent midfielders in Saudi football in recent years. He was a key player for the Saudi national team (the Green Falcons) and shone brightly before cruciate ligament injuries sidelined him. Returning to regular playing time is a personal goal for Al-Malki, as he seeks to regain his previous form and secure his place in upcoming international competitions. A move to a club that guarantees him a starting position could facilitate this.
In a related context, reports indicated that Al-Maliki rejected the idea of moving to Al-Khaleej Club during the current transfer window, despite the latter's desire to sign him, especially after Al-Hilal signed defender Murad Hawsawi, which indicates that the player is looking for a specific sporting project that meets his technical and financial ambitions.
