Lingering anxiety from Al Hilal supporters about the future of star striker Bafetimbi Gomis has been ended by “a broad agreement” about a contract extension until 2022, according to reports.
Gomis, 34, has fired home 63 goals in 81 appearances and helped lift the 2019 AFC Champions League since August 2018’s €7 million move from Galatasaray. The club’s failure to activate an option until June 2021 on the two-year deal originally signed had, however, caused consternation, amid repeat links with a switch back to the Super Lig.
Arriyadiyah calmed these fears on Wednesday when they stated positive technical reports had convinced the – suspended – 2019/20 Saudi Professional League leaders to offer terms for double the expected length. This gesture has been positively greeted by the ex-France centre forward’s camp.
Gomis departed on a private jet from Riyadh last month after coronavirus forced the cessation of sporting activity on March 14. He has continued to speak positively about his employers when in Europe.
“I am very happy in Saudi Arabia at the moment,” he told TRT Spor. “I have many goals I want to accomplish with my team.
“I do not think I will return to play football in Turkey, but perhaps I’ll live in a great city like Istanbul ahead. We will see what will happen in the future together.”
Organisers have set a provisional date of August 20 for 2019/20’s resumption, confirming a five-month hiatus because of the pandemic.
Hilal hold a six-point advantage over holders Al Nassr in the SPL and sit second in the postponed 2020 ACL’s Group B. Gomis is the latter competition’s joint-top scorer on three goals from two games.
