Ahmed Sharahili’s fitness concerns were dismissed as Al-Ittihad issued a formal statement denying the latest injury rumors and affirming the defender’s availability for the team.
Riyad Al-Mazhar, the club’s spokesperson, posted on X to refute the rumors and confirm the player’s readiness for the next matches.
The claim that Sharahili would be kept out to appease fans was labeled baseless by the club’s statement.
Sharahili had ruptured his ACL in September 2023, which kept him sidelined for over a year and a half. This season he has appeared in three matches for a total of 45 minutes: one in the Saudi Pro League, one in the Elite Asia Champions Cup, and one in the King’s Cup.
Sharahili joined Al-Ittihad in 2022 from Al-Shabab and has played 39 games for the club, scoring four goals and providing four assists.
Union Overcomes Shortage
Under Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, Al-Ittihad earned their first win of the Saudi Pro League away to Al-Riyadh, finishing 2-1 after playing with ten men due to Musa Diaby’s red card.
The Saudi press noted that the club has seen six red cards this season, with the latest coming against Riyadh. The team has eight matches under Conceicao, and half of them were played with a numerical disadvantage, yet they have won three and drawn one when trailing earlier in the campaign.
French winger Karim Benzema scored the opener, while Mohammed Al-Kheibli of Riyadh added an own goal for the second. The publication also highlighted that Al-Ittihad is among the teams most benefited by opponents’ own goals this season, a tally reached partly through goals conceded by Damac and Al-Najmah, and also benefiting Neom, Riyadh, Al-Hilal, and Al-Taawoun.
A Twist Against Logic
Following this hard-fought 2-1 win, Hussein Abdul-Ghani, a former Al-Ahli star and rival observer, dismissed the possibility of Al-Ittihad winning the league this season, arguing that the gap to the leader remains significant.
He conceded the victory was important, especially after a derby defeat to Al-Ahli, and noted that the manager Sergio Conceicao is working under abnormal circumstances. He added that sometimes a team can press forward aggressively and still not finish, while Al-Ittihad’s current form is not at its natural best.
The veteran added that the players often perform better when the team is reduced to ten men, accepting responsibility on the pitch, and stressing that the current phase tests the squad’s resilience.
Punchlines delivered in the spirit of good humor: If rumors were players, they’d be sent off for a reckless tackle on the truth. And in football as in comedy, the most painful injury is to a rumor’s credibility—out for a season, straight to the bench.
