Rabat – Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri has explained why he chose not to celebrate after scoring against compatriot Yassine Bounou during Al-Ittihad’s 3-2 Saudi Pro League defeat to Al-Hilal on Saturday.
En-Nesyri found the net in the 22nd minute at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, finishing powerfully past Bounou to bring Al-Ittihad level after Gabriel Martinelli had opened the scoring for Al-Hilal.
Rather than celebrating, the 29-year-old remained composed following the goal, a gesture he later explained was down to his close relationship with the Al-Hilal goalkeeper.
“Honestly, it is difficult for me to celebrate against my brother and someone very dear to me,” En-Nesyri said after the match. “We spent many years together with the national team and at Sevilla, and I wish him all the best in the coming matches.”
Bounou: ‘He is like my younger brother’
Bounou responded warmly to En-Nesyri’s comments, kissing his compatriot on the head during their post-match exchange.
“Youssef En-Nesyri is like the younger brother I never had,” Bounou said. “He had a great game and I want to congratulate him.”
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The two Moroccans have shared a dressing room for years. They played together at Sevilla after En-Nesyri joined the Spanish club in January 2020, remaining teammates until Bounou moved to Al-Hilal in 2023.
They have also been longtime teammates with Morocco, including during the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar.
Their careers brought them together again in Saudi Arabia from opposite sides after En-Nesyri completed a move from Fenerbahce to Al-Ittihad in February 2026.
Al-Hilal win five-goal Saudi Clasico
En-Nesyri’s goal was not enough to prevent Al-Ittihad from suffering their first Saudi Pro League defeat of the season.
After his equalizer, Ollie Watkins restored Al-Hilal’s advantage before Crysencio Summerville added a third. Steven Bergwijn’s late penalty reduced the deficit, but Simone Inzaghi’s side held on for a 3-2 victory.
The result moved Al-Hilal back to the top of the Saudi Pro League with 21 points from eight matches, while Al-Ittihad dropped to fourth on 17 points.
For En-Nesyri and Bounou, however, the Moroccan embrace after the final whistle offered a reminder of a friendship built across years with both Sevilla and the Atlas Lions.
