Shabab Responds: Was Hamdallah's Absence Orchestrated by Al Hilal?
19 November 2025
Background
Shabab has publicly addressed rumors that Al Hilal’s loan of Moroccan striker Abdul Razak Hamdallah is the reason for his absence from most games this season. The club emphasizes that his non-appearance is primarily due to injuries and not a deliberate exclusion by the team’s management.
Current form and recent appearances
Hamdallah hasn’t delivered strong performances since the season began, suffering from repeated injuries that kept him out for extended periods. The Moroccan forward has played only three matches for Shabab since the start of the season and has not found the back of the net, though he did contribute one assist.
Loans, eligibility, and the World Cup context
Some observers speculated that Shabab might be keeping Hamdallah out to avoid potential ineligibility due to his loan to Al Hilal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States. Al Hilal secured his services on loan from Shabab ahead of the quarterfinal clash with Fluminense, but Hamdallah saw only a few minutes of action in that game.
Al Hilal ultimately fell 1-2 to the Brazilian side, ending a historic run in the Club World Cup 2025. At the time, questions about Hamdallah’s future with Shabab resurfaced, with some suggesting the loan might stretch into the winter transfer window in January, potentially delaying his return to Shabab’s lineup.
Official clarifications
Turki Al-Ghamdi, the spokesperson for Shabab, denied these rumors in remarks to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadhah, stating that Hamdallah’s participation is legal and there are no legal restrictions preventing him from playing for the “Lions.” He added that the loan to Hilal was a special FIFA arrangement tied to the Club World Cup and does not affect Hamdallah’s involvement for the rest of the season.
Al-Ghamdi also noted that Hamdallah suffered an injury while with Morocco’s local team in a friendly against Kuwait on October 14, in preparation for the December Arab Cup. He said the striker is expected to be ready for Shabab’s upcoming match against Al-Khabeer (Al-Okhdood) in the ninth round of the Saudi Pro League, with the decision on his participation ultimately in the hands of head coach Emmanuel Alguacil.
Around-the-line chatter
There were reports of a rift between Alguacil and Hamdallah, fueled by his absence from matches. Some outlets linked the player with other Saudi clubs such as Al Fateh, but these rumors were not confirmed. It’s worth noting that Hamdallah’s account as one of the Saudi league’s leading forwards—second on the all-time scorers list with 150 goals, five behind Omar Al Soma—adds weight to any transfer talk, even as he remains with Shabab.
In September, reports claimed Hamdallah skipped four consecutive training sessions without authorization while seeking a new experience elsewhere, with links to clubs like Al Taawoun and Al Fateh. Al-Ghamdi dismissed these claims, explaining the pre-scheduled travel for personal commitments in the United States and noting that the schedule was adjusted to accommodate the team’s match against Al Khaleej. He added that Hamdallah returned to Riyadh and resumed training, stressing that Shabab has no intention of letting him depart during the summer window as the club continues its campaign.
With Hamdallah’s name resurfacing in transfer chatter, the club highlighted his contribution to Saudi football and his status as a top scorer in the league’s history. The Moroccan forward remains a key asset for Shabab, even as he navigates injuries and occasional absences. Recent talk of potential moves is part of the broader Saudi football transfer narrative, but the club continues to back its star and plans for his involvement in upcoming fixtures.
And now, a couple of light lines to keep things grounded: If football had a GPS for players, Hamdallah would still be updating his coordinates—somewhere between “Claimed Fame Avenue” and “Injury Lane.” Also, if you blink, you might miss him on the pitch; thankfully the ball doesn’t subscribe to Wi‑Fi, so it won’t drop his calls twice in one match.
