Martinelli’s Al Hilal debut waits as registration clock runs down

Gabriel Martinelli will not make his first appearance for Al Hilal in Tuesday’s delayed Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al Ahli, with insufficient time remaining to complete his registration before the match.

The Brazilian winger, who is moving from Arsenal, has been ruled out of Simone Inzaghi’s plans for the fixture at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Al Hilal have agreed all the details of the transfer with both Martinelli and the English club, but the formal registration process could not be completed quickly enough.

The match is a rearranged fixture from the third round of the Roshn Saudi League and is one of the most eagerly anticipated games on Al Hilal’s schedule. Supporters had been expecting to see their new attacking signing in action for the first time, but that prospect has been delayed until a later match.

According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, the limited time available to Al Hilal’s administration was the decisive factor in Martinelli’s omission. The club completed its agreement with Arsenal and the player during the current summer transfer window, in what is regarded as one of its most significant deals of the summer.

Martinelli is expected to arrive in Riyadh within the next two days. He will then undergo a medical examination before the final transfer procedures are completed. Once those steps have been concluded and his registration has been confirmed, he will become officially available to Inzaghi for Al Hilal’s upcoming matches.

The 24-year-old has built considerable experience during his time at Arsenal. He joined the London club from Brazilian side Ituano in January 2019 and gradually established himself as an important attacking option. His pace, direct running and ability to cut in from the wing have been key features of his game.

Martinelli’s Arsenal contract runs until the summer of 2027, but Al Hilal have secured his move during the current transfer market. The transfer begins a new stage of his career in the Roshn Saudi League, where the club hope he can provide a major attacking boost alongside the other players recruited during the summer.

The delay means Al Hilal supporters will have to wait a little longer to see their latest attacking weapon in competitive action. Martinelli’s debut is now expected to come after his medical, the completion of the remaining paperwork and his official registration, rather than in Tuesday’s meeting with Al Ahli.

Al Hilal will therefore face Al Ahli without the Brazilian winger, despite having completed the agreement that brought him to the club. The focus now turns to finalising the administrative requirements so that Martinelli can take part at the earliest possible opportunity.