Al Hilal Saudi legend wants exit for African international and backs another to stay

Saudi football legend and Al Hilal icon Sami Al-Jaber has called for the departure of several players and the retention of others following the team’s exit from the AFC Champions League semi-final at the hands of Al-Ahli Saudi.

Speaking in televised statements, Al-Jaber demanded the departure of several players, including Senegalese international defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

In contrast, he wanted to keep Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as one of only four foreign players he chose to remain with the squad.

Sami Al-Jaber said: “There are only four foreign players who deserve to stay at Al Hilal next season — Yassine Bounou, Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić, and Aleksandar Mitrović. The rest should leave, and the club must bring in top-level players to help the team.”

Al-Jaber specifically called for the departure of five players at the end of the season: Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi, Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, and Caio César.

Al Hilal lost their AFC Champions League semi-final match to Al Ahli Saudi by three goals to one. In the Saudi Pro League standings, Al Hilal currently sit second with 62 points — six points behind league leaders Al Ittihad — with five rounds remaining in the season.

Both Bounou and Koulibaly joined Al Hilal last season and have won the Saudi Pro League title, the Saudi Super Cup twice, and the King Cup.