Half-Loan, Half-Decision: Marcus Leonardo's Dilemma at Al Hilal
27 January 2026
Transfer Dilemma for Marcus Leonardo
The Brazilian striker Marcus Leonardo sits at a crossroads between leaving on loan and staying, a dilemma that feels almost like a departure in disguise.
Al Hilal is keen to sign a new striker during the current January window and is stepping up talks with Rennes' young forward Mohamed Qader Meti to fill the gap.
Under talks, the Saudi side would prefer to keep Leonardo on the books while freeing a domestic-list slot, potentially keeping him only for Asian competition.
The club has also explored the idea of a straight loan, but Leonardo has so far rejected every proposal, signaling a desire to continue his progress with the team.
The 22-year-old, who joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2024, has appeared 66 times for the club, scoring 43 goals and providing 5 assists.
Punchline 1: If a transfer saga came with a soundtrack, it would be a dramatic remix of Are We There Yet? with extra tempo.
Punchline 2: And if contracts paid rent, Leonardo would own the stadium by now—nevertheless, the clock keeps ticking on January’s fax machine.
