Apology in, momentum up: Al Hilal plots Cancelo’s reward as he edges back from injury
20 October 2025
Al Hilal, the Saudi champions, are lining up a reward for Portuguese winger Joao Cancelo after he apologized for the domestic registration controversy that sidelined him from the league list.
Saudi newspaper The Sports reports that Cancelo apologized to the management following his recent outburst, triggered by his omission from the champions' local squad.
The report adds that Cancelo will return to full training with the squad in the coming days and should be ready for the club’s next fixtures.
The Italian coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to re-enter Cancelo into the local squad in January, after absorbing the injury setback that led to his earlier exclusion, and he was informed of the plan in recent hours.
Ambiguous Departure
Cancelo left Riyadh with his family last Friday evening, heading to an undisclosed destination, prompting widespread speculation among fans whether the move is temporary for personal reasons or a step toward a permanent exit.
The Saudi newspaper Al Yaom notes the timing is delicate, as Cancelo is in the early phase of rehabilitation from the muscle injury suffered against Al Duhail in the AFC Elite Champions League on Sept 19, which the team won 2-1.
The report adds that the departure is not said to be related to his readiness, fueling rumors of internal tensions with the coaching staff led by Inzaghi.
Earlier, on Sept 21, the club announced Cancelo would need an eight-week rehab program, which forced his removal from the local list and allowed Brazilian Marcus Leonardo to take his place.
He is in the final rehab stage, touching the ball again as part of the last phase of preparation ahead of returning to group training with teammates after 24 days.
Hilal had missed Cancelo’s contributions in cup ties and league games, and he was also out of the AFC Elite clash against Nasaf.
Prominent absence before facing Al Sadd
The team’s goalkeeper Matteo Batoui missed training ahead of the AFC Elite clash with Al Sadd, with the club not stating reasons for the deputy’s absence.
Inzaghi: We aim to confirm the lead
The Italian coach, Simone Inzaghi, spoke ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Al Sadd at King Arena, in the Elite AFC group stage. “Salah Al-Dosri and Cancelo will miss tomorrow’s match,” he said, stressing the priority is to avoid further injuries.
“Tomorrow we have a very important match in the Elite AFC; we are leading the group and want to stay on top. I’ve watched Al Sadd in their previous two games; they are a solid side,” he added.
He continued: “Our relationship with the players has deepened since the Club World Cup, but the delay in full readiness is due to late-season preparation.”
“The match against Al Sadd is just one step; we must keep the same level and approach, and the players are consistently trying to implement the ideas in training with high confidence between players and staff.”
The team leads the Elite AFC group with six points from two wins, while Al Sadd seek their first victory in the competition.
Punchline 1: If apologies counted as assists, Cancelo would already have a hat-trick on the board—and none of them required a VAR review.
Punchline 2: If rehab had a highlight reel, Cancelo’s would be the long break you skip in a comedy montage. Now that’s what I call serial recovery.
