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Join on Telegram Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah has completed a surprise short-term loan move to Al Hilal from Al-Shabab, sparking plenty of chatter online.
The deal, announced late on Wednesday, is seen as an emergency reinforcement ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. Hamdallah, a three-time RSL Golden Boot winner, joins the Riyadh-based club until July 13 – the end of the tournament.
The 34-year-old target man heads into the competition in red-hot form, with 24 goals and four assists in 30 matches this season.
Speaking after the move, Hamdallah said he’s really happy to join such a great club and represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also added, “I will do my best and try as much as I can to add to the squad to reach more in this tournament.”
Supporters were quick to react to the news online: “Welcome to the great player and top scorer, Abderrazak Hamdallah,” one fan wrote on X “May God grant you success and bless Al Hilal with victory all the way to the final match, and to grant Al Hilal the win in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final.”
Another user added: “Those who criticise the deal are usually speaking from the heart, not the mind. The deal was done, and it was the easiest and fastest option. We should support our team and players, and pray that things go well on Friday. Don’t forget, we still have a semifinal and possibly a third-place match ahead.”
However, not all comments were as welcoming. Some pointed to Hamdallah’s notorious act when he stomped on the Hilali Flag: “Is Al Hilal rewarding those who insult the club, the badge, and the fans in the FIFA Club World Cup?” one angry supporter posted on X. “Have you really sunk so low in belittling yourselves?”
Another fan, commenting on Facebook, wasn’t convinced by the striker’s signing: “The arrival of Hamdallah feels like an old plan being recycled. Al Hilal needs someone much stronger, and there are concerns that Hamdallah could become a burden on the team.”
Since arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2017, Hamdallah has played for several big clubs, including Al-Rayyan, Al-Nassr, and most recently Al-Ittihad, where he enjoyed a goal-scoring spell. He joined Al-Shabab earlier this year, but now finds himself on the biggest stage this year, wearing the Al-Hilal blue kit – but only briefly.
