In a decisive official response aimed at imposing stability within the Jeddah club, the official spokesman for Al-Ittihad Club, Riyadh Al-Mazhar, categorically denied all the news that has recently circulated about the imminent departure of Albanian professional Mario Mitai from the ranks of “Al-Ameed” during the upcoming winter transfer period.
Al-Mazhar's statements came during an important appearance on the "Action with Waleed" program on Friday evening, where he confirmed that what is being circulated on social media and some media platforms regarding the termination of the young left-back's contract is completely untrue. The official spokesperson explained that these rumors coincide with the approaching winter transfer window, a period rife with misinformation that can affect the players' focus and the stability of the coaching staff.
Mario Mitai is considered one of the key players relied upon by Al-Ittihad's coaching staff this season. Looking at the statistics, the 22-year-old has proven his worth in the Tigers' jersey, having participated in 16 matches this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists for his teammates, accumulating 1311 minutes of playing time, reflecting the high level of confidence he enjoys within the starting lineup.
The significance of this denial lies in the Al-Ittihad management's commitment to maintaining the core of the team, especially given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League this season. Al-Ittihad aims to continue its strong performances and compete for domestic and continental titles, which necessitates both technical and administrative stability and avoiding the loss of promising young players like Metai, who joined the team in the summer transfer window of the 2024/25 season from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in a deal intended to strengthen the team's left flank.
Al-Mazhar concluded his remarks by directing an indirect message to Al-Ittihad fans about the need to obtain information from the club's official sources, noting that the coming period may witness more inaccurate journalistic speculations about Al-Ittihad players, which is a common occurrence before every transfer period, but the club's management is working according to a well-thought-out plan to preserve the team's technical achievements.
