Former Keeper Daei Calls Out Ittihad's Foreign Line and Names Neves as Roshen's Standout
23 January 2026
Reviewing Ittihad's Foreign Roster: Daei's Take
Mohammed Al-Deayea, the legendary former goalkeeper for Al-Hilal and the Saudi national team, says Al-Ittihad should rethink its foreign-player policy.
Al-Ittihad, defending Roshen champions, suffered another defeat, 2-1 to Al-Qadsia, and had previously fallen 1-0 to Al-Ettifaq.
Mindset and Management Under Scrutiny
On the show 'Dourina Ghair,' Al-Deayea argued that the team's mental state is lacking, pointing to a 17-point gap behind leaders Al-Hilal as proof of a wider problem.
He added that many issues afflict the squad, and neither the coach nor the administrative staff can solve them alone.
He also touched on contract renewals for players like Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté, suggesting the club must decide on the length of deals — one year or two, as the case may be.
He noted that age matters too, urging consideration for players over 35.
Neves: The Standout in Roshen
Deayea then praised Ruben Neves, the Portuguese midfielder for Al-Hilal, calling him the best Roshen player at the moment due to his consistency and high-quality performances week after week.
Neves had created three goals in a 4-1 win over Al-Fayha in round 17.
