First Reaction of Cancelo After Being Excluded from Al-Hilal's Local List

Journalist Hamoud Al-Qahtani revealed the reaction of Portuguese player João Cancelo after being informed of Al-Hilal's management decision to exclude him from the local roster during the current period of the Roshan Saudi League.

Al-Qahtani clarified that Cancelo initially expressed his displeasure regarding the exclusion from the list, but he soon accepted the matter after the management and the technical staff explained that the decision is temporary, paving the way for his gradual return through the Asian championship.

The Portuguese fullback also deleted Al-Hilal's name from his Instagram account and posted a picture of himself wearing the jerseys of all the clubs he has played for, except for his current team, Al-Hilal.

He noted that the club reassured the player that he would be present in a future phase, with plans to officially re-register him during the upcoming winter transfer window after completing his full treatment and rehabilitation program.

This decision came after medical examinations confirmed that the Portuguese star needed a two-month treatment and rehabilitation period, prompting the technical staff to take the step of exclusion to ensure the squad's readiness.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal strengthened its local roster by signing Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo to be the official replacement for Cancelo, providing the team with additional attacking options in the league.

Thus, Al-Hilal continues to balance its roster between physically available players and those returning from injury, as it seeks to compete for local and continental titles this season.