Riyadh Derby Dilemma: Will Leonardo Feature for Al Hilal Against Al Ittihad?
19 February 2026
New reports on Thursday evening outline the stance of Brazilian Marcos Leonardo, Al Hilal's forward, regarding his participation against Al Ittihad Jeddah on Saturday, in the 23rd round of the Saudi Pro League.
Leonardo has been sidelined recently, after a winter transfer bid to Atletico Madrid was reportedly rejected, despite terms having been agreed with the Spanish club.
According to the Saudi daily Al-Yawm, coach Simone Inzaghi will keep Leonardo out of the matchday squad for the derby, continuing his stand on the Clasico selection.
Coaching stance and return plan
Sources add that Leonardo will continue solitary training until he is ready to rejoin the group sessions with his teammates.
Inzaghi had previously denied any issues with Leonardo ahead of matches against Al Wahda of the UAE in the recent round of Asia's top competition, before deciding to exclude him from participation.
What this means for the derby
The upcoming clash remains pivotal as both clubs chase points, and Leonardo's participation could influence tactical choices for Hilal's manager and the rest of the squad.
Punchline 1: If Leonardo somehow returns and bags a goal, the stadium might need to rebrand temporarily just to applaud him properly. Punchline 2: Inzaghi’s playbook is so secret, even the ball gets a weather forecast before finding the net.
