Derby Doubts: Hamdallah’s Fitness Cloud Over the Riyadh Showdown

Uncertainty surrounds the participation of Moroccan striker Abdul Razak Hamdallah as Al Shabab visit Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League derby.

Shabab will travel to the Kingdom Arena on Friday for the seventh round of the league, hoping for a favorable result in a classic confrontation with the Riyadh giants.

The Saudi daily The Sports reported that Hamdallah will undergo final medical checks to determine his readiness for the match.

It noted that the forward trained in isolation during Shabab's Wednesday session but will rejoin the group on Thursday after completing his rehabilitation plan.

Hamdallah sustained the injury while playing for the Morocco local team in a friendly against Kuwait on October 14 as part of preparations for the Arab Cup in December.

The forward underwent a plasma therapy session on October 20 at the FIFA Medical Center in Dubai to speed up his recovery.

Shabab fans fear another absence against Hilal after midfielder Yassin Adli was ruled out of the derby.

The Sports reported Adli suffered a hamstring injury during the Shabab Damak match last Saturday in Week 6 of the Saudi Pro League, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The report said the Milan former player will not be able to join the squad for the derby, a blow to the Lions midfield.

Hamdallah has not delivered strong performances this season due to recurring injuries that kept him sidelined for long spells, having appeared in only three league matches for Shabab and failing to score, though he has one assist.

Hamdallah’s Crisis

Amid the injury talk, speculation about Hamdallahs future with Shabab rose after the appointment of Spanish coach Emmanuel Alguasiel as manager, replacing the Turkish helm.

Various reports suggested a rift between the parties, with Hamdallah weighing a possible contract termination as several Saudi clubs, led by Al Fateh, showed interest.

The chatter intensified when Hamdallah failed to find the back of the net in the first three rounds, a rarity in his career since leaving Al Nassr in 2018-19.

In September, reports claimed he skipped four consecutive Shabab trainings without prior permission while seeking a new experience, with links to clubs such as Al Taawoun and Al Fateh.

Turki Al Ghamdi, the club spokesman, denied the rumors on X, saying the striker had a pre scheduled trip to the United States to finish personal commitments.

He added that the trip conflicted with the Gulf clash, so travel was rescheduled to align with the match, and Hamdallah returned to Riyadh and trained at the club facility.

Shabab stressed that Hamdallah would stay with the squad, though injuries kept him out of action for large parts of the season.

Hamdallah stands among the SPL’s most prominent forwards, sitting second on the all time top scorers list with 150 goals, four behind Omar Suma.

Hilal had secured Hamdallah on loan from Shabab ahead of a quarterfinal against Fluminense in the 2025 Club World Cup, but he saw limited minutes in the late stages of that match.

Hilal did not rescue the game, losing 1-2 to the Brazilian side in the quarterfinal, as Hamdallah’s association with the club drew attention.

Hilal is the side Hamdallah has faced most often, with 22 career meetings, yet only four wins, four draws, and 14 losses.

Despite the defeats, Hilal is the sixth team Hamdallah has scored against, with 10 goals, trailing Al Fayha, Al Taawoun, Al Raed, Al Wehda, and Al Fateh.

Additionally, Hilal is the top team that created goals for Hamdallah, tied with Al Fayha at five assists against each side.

Punchline time: If Hamdallah misses this derby, the only thing that might actually score is the rumor mill, and even the rumor mill would need a training session to stay in shape. If you think that’s rough, remember: even a week without Hamdallah would still end up with a dramatic headline in Riyadh — somewhere, somehow, there will be a plot twist sharper than a cross from the left flank.