Defender in a Standoff: Al Hilal’s Surprising Move to Keep or Lose Ali Al-Bulayhi

Rising tensions between Ali Al-Bulayhi and Al Hilal

Ali Al-Bulayhi, the Saudi defender for Al Hilal, has sparked a debate about his future after taking a surprising step that could unsettle management amid ongoing disagreements over the club’s next phase.

These developments come as Al Hilal pushes to reorganize on technical and administrative fronts, especially with heavy domestic and continental commitments, making Al-Bulayhi’s situation one of the hottest topics in the club’s corridors.

The transfer stalemate deepens

According to the show “Dourina Ghair,” Al-Bulayhi told the club clearly that he wishes to terminate his contract and leave, demanding all remaining financial dues in his deal in exchange for amicable termination.

The program noted that the club tried to contain the situation by offering a loan move to Al Shabab, aiming to ease the financial burden and find a middle ground, but the defender rejected this option outright.

Al-Bulayhi does not view a loan as a suitable solution at the moment, insisting on full rights, especially given reduced playing time and an unclear role in the coach’s plans.

The program also indicated that Al Hilal faced two tough choices: grant the financial demands and approve contract termination, or enter lengthy negotiations to persuade him to stay or accept a loan.

What lies ahead

Al-Bulayhi is under contract with Al Hilal until 2027 after renewing for two seasons in March; his last appearance for the team was in the AFC Champions League Elite match against Sharjah on December 22, before sitting on the bench in recent games, raising questions about his future role.

In eight and a half seasons with Al Hilal, Al-Bulayhi has played 263 matches, scored 23 goals and provided 3 assists, helping the team win five league titles, three King’s Cups, three Saudi Super Cups, and two AFC Champions League titles.

Humor break: If negotiating contracts was a sport, he’d probably be top scorer. Punchline 1: Even the ink on the contract might want a raise. Punchline 2: This transfer saga is moving faster than a lightning-fast counter on a Riyadh highway.