After Neymar, 32YO Star’s Injury Adds to Al Hilal’s Woes Ahead of Winter Break

Al Hilal can’t seem to catch a break. What was shaping up to be a stellar season continues to get marred by major setbacks. Just months ago, the Riyadh-based club received a huge blow after their star player, Neymar got sidelined. But injuries seem to have taken a toll, as now another experienced star has joined the recuperation room with the Brazilian icon.

As Jorge Jesus navigates through this adversity, the silver lining emerges in the upcoming winter transfer window, presenting Al Hilal with a vital chance to bolster their team in preparation for the forthcoming challenges.

32-year-old star joins Neymar on Al Hilal’s injured list

Al Hilal’s second-choice goalkeeper, Mohammed Al Owais, has become the latest addition to the club’s injury list. This news comes from the mouth of Riyadh-based sports physiotherapist Thamer. He claims Al Owais is grappling with a back injury that has kept him sidelined for an extended period. The physician insists the goalie will undergo surgery in France and should recover in two to three months. He also reckons that the reason for Al Owais’s back injury is due to the frequent falls and jumping from which many shot stoppers often suffer. 

This certainly is a huge blow for Al Hilal, who won’t be able to use their reserve goalkeeper for a few months. Notably, Al Owais has made four appearances for Al-Zaeem. He has conceded a goal and managed to keep three clean sheets. However, his absence will now force Jorge Jesus to turn his attention to reserve goalies, Habib Al-Wutaian and Ahmad Abu Rasen. On the other hand, Al Hilal may also turn their focus on getting a fresh pair of legs to guard the sticks. This new issue might interfere with their plans to bring Manchester United star Raphael Varane. 

READ MORE: Al Hilal Demands $12M From Brazilian Club in Exchange for Buying Out 27YO’s Contract

Al Hilal is reportedly interested in signing Raphael Varane before a shot-stopper

Raphael Varane has become the subject of transfer speculation in the past few weeks. The Frenchman has frequently found himself on the bench, as Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag consistently favors Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw over the veteran. Hence, Al Hilal looks to grab the opportunity to sign the World Cup winner. 

Notably, Al Nassr has also been linked with a move for the former Real Madrid defender. Although Saudi Pro League regulations allow just eight foreign players per team, Al-Hilal is planning to solve this by delisting the injured Neymar for the balance of the season and swapping Raphael Varane in his stead. Either way, it remains to be seen what happens at this stage. 

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