Malcom delivers fresh Al Hilal message as Saudi Pro League future remains unresolved

Malcom wants to remain at Al Hilal until the end of his contract and is keen to extend his stay, despite reports that the club are considering his departure.

The Brazilian winger’s position emerged before Al Hilal’s opening Roshn Saudi League match against newly promoted Al Faisaly on Friday evening. The fixture was played at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, with Al Hilal beginning their league campaign against the side that had only recently moved up to the top flight.

Faisal Al-Malouki, a reporter for Thamanya, the broadcaster of the Saudi league, said before kick-off that the match against Al Faisaly would not be Malcom’s final appearance for Al Hilal before a possible exit.

According to Al-Malouki, Malcom’s preference is to stay with the club until his current contract expires at the end of this season. The 28-year-old also wants to negotiate an extension rather than leave Al Hilal during the current summer transfer window.

That stance comes as reports have suggested Al Hilal are looking to move Malcom on and bring in another foreign player to operate on the wing. The club’s reported interest in making a change in the position has cast uncertainty over the Brazilian’s place in the squad, even though he wants to continue in Riyadh.

Malcom has already been linked with a move to Al-Diriyah during the current summer transfer window. Brazilian, Qatari and Emirati clubs have also reportedly shown an interest in signing him, although no deal has been finalised and the situation remains unresolved.

The winger joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2023 from Russian club Zenit. Since arriving, he has helped the team win five trophies: the Roshn Saudi League, two King’s Cup titles and two Saudi Super Cup trophies.

His preference to remain means the decision over his future is not solely dependent on transfer interest from elsewhere. Al Hilal’s reported intention to recruit a new foreign winger could still lead to negotiations over Malcom’s departure, but the player’s stated wish is to see out his contract and remain beyond the current transfer window.

For now, Malcom’s involvement in the match against Al Faisaly has not been presented as the end of his time at Al Hilal. Instead, the latest update suggests he expects to continue with the club, at least until the conclusion of his existing deal, while leaving open the possibility of a further extension.

The club have not reached a final agreement over a move involving the Brazilian, and interest from Al-Diriyah and clubs in Brazil, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates has not yet produced a confirmed transfer.