Al Hilal are set for 2019/20 Saudi Professional League glory - but future belongs to Al Nassr

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  • Abdulfattah Asiri (l) playing against future employers Al Nassr in September (EPA).

    Next month’s resumption of the Saudi Professional League could not have been granted a grander starting point.

    Champions Al Nassr and pacesetters Al Hilal meet on August 5 for a Riyadh derby rich in narrative. The latter’s six-point lead – in stasis since March 14’s cessation to curb coronavirus’ devastating spread – has ensured they hold all the advantages for 2019/20, yet prudent work in the capital’s other half means their grip might only be temporary.

    Superstar foreign names, unsurprisingly, dominate coverage of the big-spending top flight. The likes of Bafetimbi Gomis and Abderrazak Hamdallah are, however, underpinned by an arms race for the best Saudi players.

    Win it and glory is, probably, yours. This is where a distinct future edge is emerging for The International.

    Last week they triumphed in a preliminary battle between these neighbours, diminutive Saudi Arabia winger Abdulfattah Asiri snubbing Hilal and agreeing to join up when his deal at Al Ahli Jeddah expires at season’s end.

    It is one – and by far the most high profile – of a quintet of resident transfers already secured for 2020/21.

    Hilal, in contrast, have failed to negotiate a permanent deal for Al Raed loanee Saleh Al Shehri. They will, also, be desperate to edge Nassr if Al Fateh’s hold on dynamic Saudi Arabia Under-23 midfielder Ali Al Hassan exhibits any genuine sign of weakening, while striking sensation Abdullah Al Hamdan still remains at Al Shabab.

    Underpinning a decisive stockpiling of native talent is the undeniable turn of the international youth teams from blue to yellow.

    January’s 2020 AFC U-23 Championship witnessed coach Saad Al Shehri decline to select any Hilal kids – an unheard of proposition. He, instead, leant on a quintet of Nassr starlets, led by authoritative ex-Chelsea midfielder Mukhtar Ali.

    The stance is yet to be reflected in Herve Renard’s seniors. Nearly a third of the winter’s 23-man Gulf Cup roster were Hilal employees.

    This seven-strong group contained big hitters from vivid winger Salem Al Dawsari, to unyielding full-back Yasser Al Shahrani and the commanding Salman Al Faraj.

    Nassr, in contrast, offered a trio of waning winger Yahya Al Shehri, promising striker Firas Al Buraikan and ascendant right-back Sultan Al Ghanam.

    This continued a long-term theme. The preceding generation was dominated by Hilal heroes such as Sami Al Jaber, Yasser Al Qahtani, Mohammad Al Shalhoub and Mohamed Al Deayea.

    You have to rewind to the halcyon days of the “Saudi Golden Trio” – that featured Majed Abdullah, Fahd Al Bishi and Mohaisn Al Jam’aan – to see Nassr dominating. Their swansong came at World Cup 1994.

    But signings of 20-cap first-teamer Asiri’s ilk only add to the bountiful talent in Nassr supremo Rui Vitoria’s ranks.

    The 50-year-old deserves enormous credit for the attention he’s paid to Al Buraikan, plus rising midfielders Abdulrahman Al Dossari, Abdullah Al Khaibari and Ali. This care is rarely reciprocated across the Gulf where coaches can barely plan beyond the upcoming match, let alone devote the time to rearing a next batch.

    His two years in charge of Benfica’s fabled academy – and trophy laden spell with the first team from 2015-19  – has created a methodology the Nassr leadership were wise to tap into.

    The Portuguese handed out 63 SPL appearances to prospects aged 23 or under in the opening 22 rounds of the disrupted 2019/20 SPL.

    Mohamed Kanno (c) in action for Al Hilal at Al Hazem in December (EPA).

    Mohamed Kanno (c) in action for Al Hilal at Al Hazem in December (EPA).

    Compare this to Hilal where midfielder Nasser Al Dawsari (five games) was the sole under-23 to play and 25-year-old Saudi Arabia midfielder Mohamed Kanno is the youngest who could be called a regular.

    They, of course, will gleefully point to 2019 AFC Champions League success and an impending reclamation of their SPL crown. This would be a third in the last four campaigns.

    But current recruitment trends mean Nassr should soon start consistently sweeping up domestic and continental silverware. It is only a matter of time.

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