Two Al Hilal Stars Edge Toward New Clubs, Yet Riyadh Keeps Them Close

Al Hilal Duo Poised for Moves in a Busy Winter Window, But Riyadh Keeps Them Close

The two Al Hilal stars are edging toward exits in this winter transfer window, but they won’t be leaving Riyadh, the Saudi capital, just yet.

Al Hilal is juggling several fronts this window, pursuing new signings while also deciding which players to move on as the squad undergoes reshaping.

Ahmed Al Ajlan, the Saudi journalist, reported on X that Abdulilah Al-Maliki, a midfield mainstay for the club, is close to moving to Al-Diriyah, a Riyadh-based First Division side.

The midfielder has faded from manager Simone Inzaghi's plans at times, a trend that could persist, especially after nearing a deal for Morad Hosawi from Gulf.

The veteran midfielder had been linked with a Gulf move in a Morad Hosawi swap, but he refused swap deals before edging toward a move to Al-Diriyah.

Meanwhile, Al Shabab reportedly contacted their neighbor to check the status of Kaio Cesar and whether the Brazilian could be recruited this winter.

Al Hilal does not oppose letting its Brazilian forward leave during the current mercato, having fallen out of coach Inzaghi's rotation in recent times.

Kaio Cesar himself had expressed frustration after being omitted from the squad for the Riyadh derby against Al Nassr, walking out of King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

With the winter window still open, the next few days will reveal whether these whispers become concrete deals or just more headlines to digest with your coffee.

Punchline 1: If transfer rumors were a sniper, they'd hit you with a headline and miss the target by a mile—and somehow we still chase the next shot.

Punchline 2: In football, timing is everything; in this window, timing is also expensive, so the contracts come with a complimentary coffee—enjoy the flavor of suspense.