Winter Push: Al-Hilal Urged to Strengthen Two Key Positions, Says Al-Qahtani
3 December 2025
Al-Qahtani's Transfer Assessment
Yasser Al-Qahtani, the former Al-Hilal star, outlines the club's winter needs from his perspective.
Al-Hilal sit second in the Saudi Pro League with 23 points, four behind leaders Al-Nassr, while topping the Western zone of the AFC Champions League with a perfect 15 points.
He told reporters that the team does not need a flood of signings, but a high-caliber striker is essential.
He argues that frequent injuries to Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez have forced the club to look for a new forward.
He also emphasizes the necessity to bolster the pivot position in midfield to stay competitive in the upcoming fixtures.
Reflecting on worst moments, he recalled losing the 2014 AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal and the 2007 Asian Cup with Saudi Arabia.
He noted moments to treasure, such as being named Asia’s best player in 2007 and scoring in the World Cup.
He admitted that moving to Al-Hilal was tough at first, but now he laughs at it after the trophies and titles he has won.
On the hardest decision of his life, he cited retirement as the toughest moment, stepping away from the pitch.
He finishes by noting his career began with Al-Qadsiyah in 2000, moved to Al-Hilal in 2005, stayed until 2018, with a loan to Al-Ain in 2011-2012, and he represented Saudi Arabia 103 times internationally.
Punchline 1: If winter signings were a sniper, Al-Hilal would hit the target eventually—just maybe after a little patience and a lot of coffee.
Punchline 2: And remember, in football as in life, the sooner you sign a striker, the sooner you stop looking for the light at the end of the tunnel—usually it's just a stadium floodlight blinking.
