Ittihad President Breaks Silence: Is Ramon Planes About to Lose His Sporting Director Post?

Ramon Planes' Future Under the Spotlight

Fahd Sandi, president of Al-Ittihad, addressed questions about the Spaniard Ramon Planes, the club's sporting director, amid ongoing rumors of a departure.

Sandi wrote on X: "Hello, dear friend. There is no fear or worry, God willing. What you asked about is just theoretical—if it doesn't rain tomorrow, the weather could stay clear."

The president routinely engages with fans through social media to keep the conversation open.

Planes' Arrival, Experience, and Club Ambitions

In January 2024, Al-Ittihad announced the appointment of Planes as part of a strategy to recruit top international expertise to develop the club's sporting operations.

The 57-year-old Spaniard brings extensive experience as a sporting director, having worked at Tottenham, Getafe, and Barcelona, with a recent stint at Real Betis prior to joining Al-Ittihad.

His Barcelona spell included a period as technical secretary; his last post before joining Al-Ittihad was as Betis' sporting director.

Clasico Preparations and Team News

Al-Ittihad are gearing up to face arch-rivals Al-Hilal tomorrow at the Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League.

Saudi newspaper Al-Yaom reported that Benzema, Bergwijn, and Saudi defender Mohannad Al-Sheneqiti have rejoined the first team after recovering from injuries, and they trained with the squad ahead of the big match.

The report notes this trio's return provides a boost for Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao as he seeks a precious league win against the champions, who have endured a difficult spell.

Benzema missed the last match against Al-Shorta of Iraq in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage, which Al-Ittihad won 4-1. Defender Hassan Kadish will miss the Clasico due to a fresh injury; he is undergoing a tailored treatment and rehab plan.

Kadish sustained the injury in the 1-1 draw with Al-Fayha last Friday, his first start in nearly four months, which also kept him out of the Al-Shorta game. Fans had hoped to see him feature in the Clasico, but his absence from training yesterday makes participation unlikely.

October Haunt and Standings

The Portuguese coach will also be aiming for his first domestic win with Al-Ittihad in this clash.

Before this fixture, Al-Ittihad sit fifth with ten points, one behind Al-Hilal in fourth, while Al-Nassr lead the table with 15.

October has become a ghost month for this rivalry; Hilal has claimed victories in October more often, while Al-Ittihad's last October win over Hilal dates back to 2016. Across their October meetings, they have faced each other seven times in the Saudi Pro League, with Hilal winning three, Al-Ittihad two, and two draws.

Overall, the two teams have met 54 times in the Saudi Pro League era, with Hilal securing 27 wins, Al-Ittihad 11, and 16 draws. Hilal's players have netted 90 goals against Al-Ittihad, while Al-Ittihad has scored 62 against the blue wave.

Final thought: The derby isn’t just about one match—it’s about a narrative of planning, patience, and who gets to call the control tower in the end.

Punchline 1: If football is a plane, Ramon Planes’ future is the turbulence—stay tuned, because the runway might change overnight.

Punchline 2: October ghosts? Please, we only haunt defenses—ours happens to be in the home locker room and always keeps the fans guessing whether the plane will land or crash into a press conference.