Hamdallah Returns: Shabab's Bold Reboot in the Saudi Pro League

Return to action after two months

Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah is back in the Saudi Pro League after a two-month layoff, with Al Shabab set to visit Al Khodood on Sunday at the Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in the ninth round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League.

According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh, Hamdallah will be fit to feature after recovering from an injury that had him out for a stretch. Shabab will also be without Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco due to injury, a setback the team hopes to recover from quickly.

The medical staff are working to have Carrasco ready in time for the King Cup quarterfinal against Al Ittihad on Saturday, November 29, while Swiss forward Vincent Siro misses the match due to suspension. In addition, midfielder Yasin Addli and Abdul Aziz Al-Othman are being prepared to join Hamdallah after returning from injury.

If Hamdallah plays, it would be his first appearance for Shabab in about two months, since the goalless draw with Al Fayha on September 19 in the league’s third round.

In three appearances this season, he has not scored but provided one assist, a drought not seen since his move from Al Nassr in the 2018-19 campaign. He also missed several league and cup matches with injuries, including fixtures against Al Khudood, Al Ahli, Damac, and others in the Saudi Professional League and the King Cup group stages.

Rumors and clarifications

There were whispers that Shabab might be maneuvering to keep Hamdallah out due to his temporary loan to Al Hilal for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States. However, Turki Al-Ghamdi, the club’s spokesman, denied any legal obstacle to Hamdallah’s participation, stating the loan was a FIFA exceptional arrangement and does not affect his status with Shabab for the season.

Al-Ghamdi added that Hamdallah’s absence from certain games was due to injury sustained during a Morocco local-team friendly against Kuwait on October 14 in preparation for the Arab Cup in December.

A coaching wrinkle

For a period there were talks of a friction between Hamdallah and head coach Emmanuel Alguacil as the striker was kept out of several matches. Reports suggested the possibility of Hamdallah seeking a contract termination amid interest from clubs like Al Fateh, but the club publicly refuted these claims, emphasizing that Hamdallah had a pre-scheduled trip to the United States to address private commitments and then returned to Riyadh to resume training.

The club also stressed that the Al Hilal loan occurred during a special FIFA window and does not affect Hamdallah’s ongoing season with Shabab. Hamdallah is among the league’s all-time greats, ranking second with 150 goals, just five behind Omar Suma, and his return is viewed as a potential catalyst for Shabab’s ambitions this season.

Media coverage has tied Hamdallah’s name to various Saudi clubs, including Al Fateh, who were keen to sign him to help avoid relegation, but Shabab has asserted their commitment to keeping him as a key figure for the campaign.

As the match with Al Khodood approaches, Hamdallah’s fitness and form will be under the spotlight, with fans hoping his two-month gap ends with a memorable contribution to the team’s season.

If Hamdallah takes the field, it will be a notable moment in his Saudi tenure, and a reminder that a good goalscorer can still punch above his weight even when the calendar asks for patience.

And one more thing to keep in mind: if a ball ever escapes the back of the net, just remember that even goals need a little vacation sometimes. Punchline 1: Goals don’t age like fine wine—they get better with celebrations. Punchline 2: The net called; it wants Hamdallah back, promising to behave this time.