Ali Al-Bulaihi’s Al Hilal departure delayed as exit talks reach stalemate

Ali Al-Bulaihi’s planned departure from Al Hilal has been complicated by a rare dispute with the club, with negotiations over ending his contract reportedly failing to reach an agreement.

The Saudi Arabia international is approaching the end of a highly successful nine-year spell with the Riyadh club, but his future remains unresolved despite Al Hilal’s apparent decision to move on from the 36-year-old defender.

According to the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, discussions between Al Hilal and Al-Bulaihi over terminating his contract have stalled. His current deal is due to expire at the end of next season.

Al-Bulaihi has received offers from a number of Roshn Saudi League clubs, but those proposals are understood to be below the level he is seeking. The defender is also refusing to enter negotiations with other clubs until his relationship with Al Hilal has been formally concluded.

A final decision on his situation is expected in the coming hours. The two sides could agree to cancel the contract by mutual consent, or Al-Bulaihi could remain with Al Hilal while waiting for an offer that better matches his expectations.

His position at the club had already become uncertain after new head coach Simone Inzaghi left him out of his plans for the coming season. Al-Bulaihi was not included in Al Hilal’s squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria.

That decision appears to have brought his long association with Al Hilal close to an end. He joined the club from Al Fateh in 2017 and has spent almost the entirety of the past nine years there, apart from the second half of last season, when he moved to Al Shabab on loan.

During his time with Al Hilal, Al-Bulaihi played a key role in one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. He helped the team win 13 trophies, including five Roshn Saudi League titles and two AFC Champions League crowns.

He also contributed to three King’s Cup triumphs and three Saudi Super Cup victories. Those honours established Al-Bulaihi as an important figure in Al Hilal’s recent domestic and continental success.

The immediate issue, however, is whether his next step will be agreed before the new season begins. Al Hilal must now decide whether to complete an amicable separation or retain the defender until a suitable offer arrives, while Al-Bulaihi waits for clarity over the final chapter of his career with the club.