Al Hilal
Al Hilal’s Theo Hernandez scored deep into first-half stoppage time as his side rallied to beat Al Kholood 2-1 in the Saudi King’s Cup final on Friday, earning coach Simone Inzaghi his first trophy with the club.
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and grabbed an assist on his debut for Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal as they thrashed lowly Al-Akhdoud 6-0 on Thursday.
The 27-year-old French defender joins Al-Hilal on a three-year deal, ending a six-season spell at the San Siro after arriving from Real Madrid in 2019.
Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo broke down in tears during the minute's silence held for their former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota before their side's Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday.
Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari will miss the remainder of the Club World Cup with a hamstring injury, the Saudi club said on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal became the only Asian side to reach the Club World Cup's knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Pachuca on Thursday, finishing their Group H campaign unbeaten and setting up a round-of-16 meeting with Manchester City.
The Saudi club said that the 49-year-old Italian had penned a two-year contract, with the signing taking place in Paris.
Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal parted ways with Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, the club announced on Friday.
Neymar has left Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal to return to Santos, the Brazilian club where both he and Pele made their names.
AS Roma have signed defender Saud Abdulhamid from Saudi Pro League Champions Al-Hilal, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.
Neymar will undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Brazil's FA said, an injury that is expected to sideline the forward for several months.
The 31-year-old, who last month joined the former Asian champions for 90 million euros ($95.9 million) from Paris Saint-Germain, was introduced in the 64th minute for fellow Brazilian Michael and set up Malcom to score Al-Hilal's fourth in the 83rd minute.
"The Atlantic lion is our goalie," Al-Hilal posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts.
The 26-year-old is the Al-Hilal's fourth signing this summer after Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves.
"What an unbelievable journey. A big thank you to every single person I had the chance to work with, every single moment was unforgettable," a tearful Neves said in an emotional farewell video.
Diaz, however, stressed his sights are fixed on the meeting with Urawa at Saitama Stadium in the continental club final rather than the future of Argentina's World Cup-winning captain.
Al Hilal, who won their fourth Asian crown in 2021, go into the game at Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium showing signs that a packed season is taking its toll.
Al Ahly, the 10-time record champions of Africa, know that nothing but victory could send them to the quarter-finals.
The defending champions squeezed past Iran's Foolad on Thursday to set up the meeting with the Qatari club in Doha, with the winners due to take on Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds over two legs in the final on April 29 and May 6.
