2023-08-10 20:33:56
Defending champion for the first time since 2009, Al-Ittihad will have to assume this new role once morest opponents with long teeth. Retaining his Egyptians like Ahmed Hegazy in defense or Tarek Hamed in the middle, the situation is different for his top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah. Following the arrival of Karim Benzema, his future is uncertain and he might pack up like the Brazilian Bruno Henrique. Because yes, this summer, the transfer window was agitated for Al-Ittihad. Besides the 2022 Ballon d’Or, N’Golo Kanté arrived from Chelsea and Fabinho was recruited from the Liverpool side. Two elements of quality in the midfield as well as a young talent in a corridor since Jota arrived with great fanfare from Celtic Glasgow. Under the leadership of Nuno Espírito Santo, Al-Ittihad has given itself the means to stay at the top.
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Dolphin of the Tigers last season Al-Nasr will still be expected at the turn thanks to the fivefold Ballon d’Or Cristiano Ronaldo in its workforce. His duet with Talisca still risks sparking, just like the contribution to the creation of Pity Martinez. Nevertheless, some renowned players have come to improve the squad now coached by Luis Castro. In the midfield, the duo made up of Marcelo Brozovic and Seko Fofana promises. The left lane also took quality with the arrivals of Alex Telles and especially Sadio Mané who is the second star of this team. The Riyadh club also has some Saudi internationals like Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Sultan Al-Ghannam and Abdulelah Al-Amri.
To read Michale Emenalo outlines the new ambitions of the Saudi Pro League on the transfer window
Al-Hilal to return to the top, Al-Ahli the ambitious promoted
Most successful club in the country with 18 coronations, Al-Hilal had lost his crown following three consecutive titles. Only third, “the Blue Wave” wants to sweep the championship with the best local players like Saud Abdulhamid, Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Salem Al-Dawsari or Mohammed Al-Owais. Not forgetting the national accent, Al-Hilal does not forget the stars. With Moussa Marega, Michael and André Carillo as star foreign players before this summer, the Riyadh club have added Malcom (Zenit), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton), Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio) and Kalidou Koublibaly (Chelsea) to their squad. . A transfer window of almost 180 million euros which might even pass the 200 million euros mark if Marco Verratti ever comes. King having lost his crown, Al-Hilal wants to return to the top and has also chosen to bring back Jorge Jesus as conductor.
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Finally, surely the most exciting project goes to Al-Ahly. Starting further, because second division champion following an astonishing relegation in 2022, “the royal club” would like to regain its crown which has eluded it since 2016. Previously worn by the former player of Sochaux, Bastia and Montpellier Ryad Boudebouz, the Saudi formation will be able to count on reinforcements of weight. While perhaps waiting for the Neapolitan Piotr Zielinski, it is Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle), Édouard Mendy (Chelsea), Franck Kessié (FC Barcelona) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) who will embody this project. The return of Macedonian Ezgjan Alioski from loan will also be good for a team which will be coached by German technician Matthias Jaissle who had done a colossal job for two years with Salzburg.
Les outsiders
Disappointing last year Al-Ettifaq raised his head at the end with a seventh place. Wanting to move up the rankings, the Saudi team bet on a new coach with Steven Gerrard. After a failure at Aston Villa, the former glory of Liverpool offers itself a new challenge. Bringing back his former teammate with the Reds and successor to the captain’s armband Jordan Henderson as the star of the team, he can also rely on Scottish central defender Jack Hendry, but also two quality attackers with the former Lyonnais Moussa Dembélé and the Swede Robin Quaison who had wreaked havoc during his time in Mainz. Leader at the start of the season before collapsing, Al-Shabab will once once more be an ambition club. With the playing master Ever Banega, Gustavo Cuellar at his side and several internationals like Hussain Al-Monassar, Fawaz Al-Sagour or even Moteb Al-Harbi, this team has solid arguments to aim for the podium and at least a top 5.
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Beware, however, of the loss of striker Aaron Boupendza to Cincinnatti, even if some rumors lead to Alvaro Morata. Champions in 2013, the “Sons of Palm Trees” d’Al-Fateh have less resources than their competitors, but have arguments. Apart from ex-Barcelona Cristian Tello, Armenian attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayán arrives from Columbus Crew following three full seasons in MLS and although he does not have the status of the international stars who arrived in the league, he can be a nice attraction. Former Lyonnais Jason Denayer will also be a useful addition to the defense of the team coached by Slaven Bilic. Note the presence of local star Firas Al-Buraikan in attack. First part of the table for many years and fifth in the last season, Al-Taawoun strengthened less than the competition. Andrei Girotto (Nantes) will nevertheless try to bring solidity to a team which often manages to pull out of the game.
The other teams
Promoted to the first division, Al-Hazem will try to keep his place in the elite with African internationals like the Tunisian Aymen Dahmen and the Comorian Faïz Selemani (ex Niort, Tours, Lorient and Ajaccio). Other promoted, Al-Okhood will rely heavily on the young Spaniard Alex Collado to hope to stay in the top flight while the last promoted Al-Riyadh notably recovered the former Auxerrois Birama Touré. Saved for three small points, Al-Khaleej should still fight. In its workforce we can note the presence of some Portuguese speakers and two known faces from Ligue 1. Former Guingamp Pedro Rebocho and former Bordeaux native André Biyogo Poko. Also affected by the bottom of the table, Al-Wehda will rely in particular on the Moroccans Munir El Kajoui, Faycal Fajr and the Frenchman Jean-David Beauguel.
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Pour Al-Fayha who has just signed the Zambian of Glasgow Rangers Fashion Sakala, it is difficult to imagine a presence at the top of the table just like for Al-Raed which has in its ranks the former Dijonnais Julio Tavares. Only twelfth last year, Abha which has Felipe Caicedo in attack, has strengthened with Grzegorz Krychowiak (ex-PSG) and François Kamano (ex-Bordeaux) while the former coach of Poland Czeslaw Michniewicz arrived on the bench. Active this summer and ninth last season, Al-Taee bet on Enzo Roco (ex Elche), Robert Bauer (ex St Trond) or even Virgil Misidjan (ex Twente) to stay in the middle of the table. Finally, with Damac FC and its 100% Algerian hinge with Farouk Chafaï and Abdelkader Bedrane will try to do at least as well as eighth place last season.
Pub. on 08/10/2023 22:33 Update on 08/11/2023 00:07
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