Bounou Breaks Unwanted Record with Hilal
Yassine Bounou endured a torrid evening last Friday between the posts as Al-Raed stunned Al-Hilal with three goals in Buraydah in Round 30 of the Saudi Pro League.
Morocco's Karim El Berkaoui opened the scoring against his compatriot Bounou at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, notching his first of two goals of the night. The second came in the 68th minute, before Saleh Al-Amri slotted home a 99th-minute penalty.
Al Hilal won the game 3-5, but still Bounou's tally of goals conceded in the league ballooned to 37, making him the first goalkeeper in Al-Hilal's history to concede 35 or more in a single season .
In a separate development, Bounou took to Instagram to bid an emotional farewell to outgoing manager Jorge Jesus, who parted ways with the club by mutual consent following their exit from the AFC Champions League at the hands of Al-Ahli.
'Thank you Mr Jesus for all the moments we shared,' Bounou wrote . 'You've been a model of professionalism and respect, and a man with a big heart.'
With the Club World Cup looming next month in the United States, Al-Hilal have temporarily placed club legend Mohammad Al-Shalhoub at the helm. But the real buzz surrounds Marco Silva, currently in charge at Fulham, who has reportedly agreed to take over after the Premier League season wraps up.
Silva, 46, boasts a resume that includes spells at Hull City, Watford, Everton, Olympiacos, and Sporting CP. This term, he's led Fulham to mid-table respectability, recording 14 wins in 35 league outings. Tags: Al HilalSaudi pro leagueyassine bounou
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Morocco World
Summer Transfer Window Heats Up Across Europe
As the summer transfer window opens, Europe's top clubs are busy lining up their next big moves, from veteran players seeking fresh challenges to young talents ready to break through. Real Madrid Departures and Negotiations After spending 13 years at the club, Real Madrid legend Luka Modric will leave this summer at the end of the FIFA Club World Cup . According to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 39-year-old Ballon d'Or winner is a key target for AC Milan due to his experience. The Italian club is seeking a veteran who can guide and assist its younger players. Real Madrid and Benfica are at an impasse over left-back Álvaro Carreras. Madrid hoped to have him in place before the Club World Cup, but Benfica insists on the full 50$ million release clause, which Los Blancos consider excessive. Rather than lowering the fee, Benfica is only open to discussions about how the payment could be structured, according to Marca. Barcelona's Transfer Targets Sky Sports Deutschland's Florian Plettenberg says that Barcelona has already opened preliminary discussions to bring Liverpool's winger Luis Díaz to Camp Nou. At 28 years old, the Colombian winger sits high on Barça's wishlist despite the club's tight budget. Still, they may need to beat off interest from many lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League. While Diaz remains their target signing, Barcelona is also monitoring other options in England. According to The Sun, Barcelona is interested in another Premier League player. The Blaugrana are reportedly eyeing Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who, at 27, is believed to be on his way out of Old Trafford. United will reportedly listen to bids in the region of $40 million. Goalkeeper Joan García is on the verge of joining Barcelona from Espanyol. Fabrizio Romano says that Barça will activate his $25 million release clause. The 24-year-old Spanish goalkeeper played a key role in helping Espanyol avoid relegation, emerging as one of La Liga's top performers despite his team's struggles. Other European Star Strikers Viktor Gyökeres is widely considered as one of Europe's most lethal strikers after a sensational season with Sporting CP, where he scored 54 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions. His performances have drawn interest from multiple clubs, with Arsenal reportedly leading the race. Atlético Madrid and Napoli are also keen to sign the prolific striker, but Sporting remain firm on their valuation, seeking around 75$ million to let him go. Al Hilal and AC Milan have reportedly reached an agreement in principle for left-back Theo Hernández. The 27-year-old is poised to join the Saudi Pro League side for 30$ million, but he has requested his annual salary be raised from 15$ million to 20$ million, according to Fabrizio Romano. Manchester City are in advanced talks with Olympique Lyon over a potential €40 million move for French midfielder Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old has been given the green light for a transfer to the Etihad Stadium after an impressive campaign, recording 12 goals and 20 assists. Kevin De Bruyne has completed a verbal agreement to join Napoli on a free transfer, ending his tenure at Manchester City. At 33, the Belgian midfielder opted for Napoli over offers from MLS and Saudi Arabia, prioritizing a competitive European environment Moroccan Players on the Move Arsenal are keen to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City, with Mikel Arteta backing a $26 million move. The Moroccan midfielder, who arrived at Leicester from Genk last summer, impressed despite the team's struggles, tallying 3 goals and 5 assists across all competitions Real Madrid is tracking 16-year-old Abdellah Ouazane, who will become a free agent on June 30 when his deal at Ajax expires. The Spanish club has kept a close eye on the Moroccan youngster for some time, and they've already opened communication with his representatives ahead of a potential move. Wydad Casablanca has shown interest in bringing Hakim Ziyech back to Morocco now that he's a free agent. The 32-year-old winger ended his brief five-month spell with Qatari side Al Duhail, where he managed just one goal and one assist in 13 outings, before Al Duhail confirmed his departure last weekend. Moroccan left-back Youssef Lakhdim is pushing Real Madrid for a season-long loan to Deportivo Alavés after finding playing time limited at the Bernabéu. Alavés has agreed to cover his entire salary for the upcoming campaign, making the move straightforward for Madrid and giving the 18-year-old a chance to play regularly at a high level. Aston Villa have been linked with a summer move for Youssef En-Nesyri, who joined Fenerbahçe from Sevilla last summer for a club-record fee of $19.5 million. In his first season in Turkiye, the 28-year-old striker scored 20 goals in the Super Lig (30 across all competitions). However, sections of the Fenerbahçe support grew restless, occasionally booing him. Reports from Turkiye indicate En-Nesyri is growing restless in Istanbul and is open to new opportunities.
Morocco World
7 hours ago
- Morocco World
Newcastle and Liverpool Eye Moroccan Starlet Aït Boudlal
Moroccan defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal is attracting growing interest from top clubs across Europe after a solid loan spell at Amiens. According to Africa Foot, Premier League sides Newcastle United and Liverpool are both keen on the Rennes center-back. Newcastle are understood to have met with the player's camp, while Liverpool have reportedly tabled a formal offer. French clubs OGC Nice and Lille are also monitoring him closely, with two top-half La Liga teams joining the chase. Aït Boudlal joined Rennes from Morocco's Mohammed VI Academy in July 2024. He spent the first half of the 2024–25 season playing for Rennes II in Championnat National 3 before moving to Amiens on loan in February. Despite joining mid-season, Aït Boudlal quickly became a regular starter for Amiens, making nine league appearances – eight as a starter – and registering one assist in a 3–2 win over Guingamp. His physical presence, composure, and sharp positioning have been widely praised. Amiens finished the season mid-table, in 11th. At 1.90m tall, Aït Boudlal is a commanding figure in defense. He captained Morocco at U17 level, leading them to runners-up finishes in the 2022 Arab Cup and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored in the U17 AFCON final and earned a place in the Team of the Tournament. He also represented Morocco at the 2023 U17 World Cup. In October 2023, The Guardian named him among the 60 best young footballers in the world born in 2006. Still under contract with Rennes until 2028, Aït Boudlal faces a crucial summer. His next move could be a defining step in his career. Tags: Aït BoudlalAmiensLiverpoolNewcastleRennes
Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
Wydad Interested in Hakim Ziyech Ahead of Club World Cup
Wydad Casablanca are exploring a move for Hakim Ziyech following his exit from Al Duhail, according to Africa Foot. The Moroccan international is currently a free agent and could be in line for a surprise switch to Botola Pro. Ziyech, 32, parted ways with the Qatari club just five months after joining. His time in Doha was underwhelming, with only one goal and one assist in 13 appearances. Al Duhail confirmed his departure in a brief statement on Saturday. Wydad, who will represent Morocco at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, are reportedly considering a short-term deal to strengthen their squad. Club president Hicham Aït Menna is said to have opened discussions through intermediaries to gauge Ziyech's interest. Despite representing Morocco at the international level, Ziyech has never played professionally in the country. Born and raised in the Netherlands, his entire career has taken place abroad, with spells at Heerenveen, Twente, Ajax, Chelsea, Galatasaray, and most recently, Al Duhail. The winger's career has stalled in recent years. After a promising start at Ajax and a high-profile move to Chelsea, things began to unravel. Injuries, tactical changes and lack of game time limited his impact in London. Short spells in Turkey and Qatar followed, but neither sparked a real turnaround. Ziyech was left out of Morocco's squad in 2025 and is now believed to be looking for a new challenge that could revive his form and put him back in contention ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations to be held on home soil. Wydad see the move as a bold statement ahead of their Club World Cup campaign. Ziyech's experience at the top level, including Champions League and World Cup appearances, could offer valuable leadership and quality in attack. His market value has dipped to around €4.5 million, but on a free transfer, the deal could suit both parties. Tags: Club World CupHakim ZiyechWydad AC
