Al-Ittihad Saudi Club announced in an official statement that their Albanian player, Mario Mitai, has urgently left for his home country, just hours before their highly anticipated match against Al-Hilal in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. The club explained in their brief statement on the "X" platform that the player's departure was due to an urgent family matter—the death of his grandmother—without specifying a return date, casting doubt on his availability for the match.
General context: The Saudi Clasico at a crucial turning point
These developments come at a highly sensitive time for both teams, as the "Saudi Clasico" between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal is one of the most important and prestigious matches in the history of Saudi football. Al-Hilal enters the match at the top of the league table, seeking to consolidate its lead and move closer to reclaiming the title. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad, the defending champions, are experiencing an inconsistent season and are striving to improve their position and return to winning ways under the guidance of their Argentinian coach, Marcelo Gallardo, especially since any further slip-up could significantly diminish their chances of competing for the title.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, the potential absence of Mitai represents a defensive blow for Al-Ittihad. The left-back, a vital position in Gallardo's plans, will be difficult to replace against a formidable attacking force like Al-Hilal, which boasts world-class players. This unexpected absence will force the coaching staff to reshuffle their defensive line and could affect the stability and cohesion of the back line in a match where mistakes are unacceptable.
Regionally and internationally, the Saudi Professional League matches, especially top-tier encounters like this classic, enjoy widespread attention in the Middle East and around the world, thanks to the presence of a constellation of international stars. The absence of an international player like Mario Mitai, who recently joined Al-Ittihad, from such a significant event highlights the unexpected challenges clubs face and underscores the human side of professional players' lives. As all eyes turn to the Kingdom Arena on Friday evening, Al-Ittihad fans anxiously await the final decision regarding the player's participation, hoping their team will not be negatively impacted by his absence at this crucial juncture in the season.
