Al Hilal’s Spain Trip for Malcom Oliveira: A Step Toward Healing Before the AFC Elite Clash

Injury Update

Saudi club Al Hilal announced a fresh update on star Malcom Oliveira’s injury as the team prepares for the big clash against Al Gharafa in the AFC Elite Champions League. Tests are ongoing, and the medical team won't take any chances with a player of his importance.

The Saudis face Al Gharafa on Monday in the fourth round, leading the West Asia group and hoping to extend their top spot. The club is hopeful that he will be ready soon, but it remains uncertain.

Malcom was left out by coach Simone Inzaghi for the Gulf duel. A crystal-clear pain assessment is expected, and the decision to travel to Spain was made in light of this evaluation.

Hilal announced on X that Malcom will travel to Spain the next day with a member of the medical staff to check the foot injury he sustained earlier this season. He has already missed several sessions and will undergo imaging if needed. No return date was given, but insiders say the club will be cautious.

There was no update on when he might return to training or matches. The club is also keen to manage expectations and protect the player’s long-term fitness, balancing immediate needs with the bigger plan for the season.

Performance and Health Snapshot

Malcom is one of Hilal's marquee signings since the club's recruitment drive; the Brazilian forward, who previously wore Barcelona and Zenit colors, has delivered standout form since summer 2023. Experts say the Brazilian's impact at the frontline remains vital, and his contributions have been a cornerstone of the team’s attacking dynamic.

He has played 105 matches for Hilal across all competitions, scoring 40 goals and creating 34 assists. This season, Malcom has appeared in seven games across league and Elite AFC, tallying three goals and three assists. If fitness returns, expect similar productivity in the coming weeks.

The injury spell has haunted Hilal since the start of the season, with the Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo sidelined for weeks before returning to training. Other players have suffered, including Sergej Savic, Darwin Nunez, and duo Hamad Al Yamai and Hassan Tambakti. The broader squad is navigating a tough period of ailments and preparation, underscoring the coaching staff’s resolve to keep competing at a high level.

Additionally, Savic and Nunez continued rehab this morning at the team's training facility; flu kept Ali Al Bilhi and Hassan Tambakti from traveling with the squad to Qatar. The medical team is monitoring progress closely as they map out recovery timelines, with the aim of keeping the squad competitive in a demanding schedule.

The Serbian and Uruguayan stars both faced absences in recent sessions, with the derbies and mid-season fixtures forming a challenging backdrop for rehabilitation. Since the start of the campaign, the Uruguayan has played eight games in all competitions, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Savic is aiming for his first Asian appearance after renewing his contract until 2028, continuing to contribute with experience and goals since arriving in 2023.

Al Hilal is also in a domestic transfer race with Al Ittihad for Murad Hosaawi of Gulf, with reports that the latter club has received approaches from both sides. The Saudi outlet Al-Riyadhiyya indicated that the union had informally engaged Gulf to negotiate a possible January move, while Gulf reportedly refused to entertain negotiations until official, bilateral talks could occur, given Hosaawi’s value and current form. The 24-year-old midfielder’s contract runs through 2029, which may complicate a mid-season exit and reshape the midfield landscape in the Saudi league.

January may seem far away, but the chatter around Hosaawi’s future is heating up as both clubs monitor the market and the player’s availability. For Hilal, the focus remains on Malcom’s recovery and the upcoming AFC Elite fixtures, while also weighing domestic options to bolster the squad mid-season.

Punchline 1: If injuries were tickets, Hilal would need a locksmith to get out of this stadium—talk about a season with a punchy plot twist!

Punchline 2: And if my fantasy team had this many injured players, I’d start charging admission for the doctors’ clinic—welcome to the world where the bench has a better attendance than the fans.