The curtain came down on the winter transfer market in Saudi Arabia, which extended from January 1 until yesterday, Tuesday, January 30, 2024, with several deals being concluded in the final hours of the “Mercato”.
Eight clubs concluded a number of deals, most notably the joining of Croatian player Ivan Rakitic to the ranks of Al-Shabab Club, for a year and a half, coming from the Spanish club Seville.
Al-Shabab Club also revealed the inclusion of Brazilian Vitinho on loan from Al-Ettifaq Club, Musab Al-Jawir from Al-Hilal Club, and Mustafa Malaikah from Al-Fateh Club.
While Al-Nasr Club announced the strengthening of its ranks with Australian player Aziz Behich, coming from Australian club Melbourne City, on loan until the end of the current season, in addition to re-registering Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina in the club’s roster.
Ittihad Jeddah Club strengthened its ranks with Fawaz Al-Saqour, Hamed Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Muhammad Al-Mahasneh, and Saad Al-Musa.
While Al Hilal Club contented itself with contracting Brazilian player Renan Lodi earlier, in addition to registering goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie in the team roster.
Other contracts were as follows:
Al-Ettifaq Club: Ivorian Sekou Fofana, Spaniard Alvaro Medran, Cameroonian Karl Toko Ekambi, Khaled Al-Ghanem, Abdullah Madu, Haroun Camara, Abdel Rahman Al-Aboud.
Al-Taawoun Club: Ibrahim Al-Shuail, Argentine Cristian Guanca, Mohamed Mahzri, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Mohamed Bakr, Mohamed Al-Kuwaikbi.
Abha Club: Congolese Marcel Tisserand, Ibrahim Al-Zubaidi.
Gulf Club: Nayef Masoud.
With Amr Adib Messi is a guest on an Arabic program for the first time
Fans of Argentine football star Lionel Messi will have a date to watch him for the first time through an Arabic program, as he is hosted by Egyptian journalist Amr Adib on the Big Time podcast.
Turki Al-Sheikh, head of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, published a post on his official account on the “X” platform, in which he shared a group of clips from the special episode of the Big Time podcast with the Argentine star Lionel Messi.
He also shared another photo that brings together player Lionel Messi and Egyptian journalist Amr Adib.
The filming of this meeting comes as part of the “Big Time” podcast that was launched on the occasion of the Riyadh Season, through which presenter Adeeb will host many Arab and international celebrities.
While the start date of the podcast, or the date of the Lionel Messi episode, has not yet been announced.
Messi is in Saudi Arabia with his American club, Inter Miami, to play two friendly matches within the Riyadh season against Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr clubs.
Messi played his first match at the festival, against Al-Hilal Saudi Club, and it ended with the Argentine and his teammates losing 4-3, during which Messi was able to score one goal and assist another.
Tomorrow, Thursday, will be the date of the awaited match, when Lionel Messi will face off against his eternal rival, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, and his Saudi team, Al-Nassr.
The tournament is held in a league system, where the team with the most points wins the title.