Rabat – Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus has praised Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s outstanding performance during his successful debut for the Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Bounou put in a fine performance on Thursday evening as his new club comfortably defeated Al Raed with a 4-0 scoreline on matchday 3 of the Saudi Pro League.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Portuguese coach made sure to highlight the commending performance of his new Moroccan signee while suggesting that he still needs the Saudi goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf, the club’s former starter. :
“Bounou is a world-class keeper, but that in no way diminishes my great confidence in Abdullah Al-Mayouf’s abilities,” said the Portuguese coach.
The former Wydad goalkeeper joined Al Hilal from Sevilla FC this summer. Bounou has signed a 3-year contract with the Saudi club.
During the pre-match conference, Jesus said that the starting lineup for the match against Al Raed would be different from any other match.
On August 17, the former Sevilla player signed a contract with Al Hilal for three seasons and allegedly 21 million euros, ending in the summer of 2026.
Along with Brazilian sensation Neymar and the former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves, Bounou became the latest celebrity to sign with a Saudi team.
With the international break around the corner, the lineup of Morocco’s Atlas Lions’ coach Walid Regragui for the upcoming matches against Liberia and Burkina Faso is also quite likely to include the former Sevilla star and Europa League champion.
With the Atlas Lions’ backup goalkeeper Munir Mohammedi currently suffering from a shoulder injury, many expect Bounou to be available for the Moroccan national team’s upcoming games.
Read also: Al-Hilal in ‘Serious Negotiations’ to Sign Moroccan Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou
