Bono, Benzema, Cancelo, and Al-Dawsari — Four Ticking Time Bombs in Al-Hilal's Dressing Room

Al-Hilal are entering a decisive phase of preparations for the 2026-27 season amid four unresolved thorny issues concerning the futures of several key squad members, chief among them Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and French striker Karim Benzema. 1) Bounou's future: the Moroccan goalkeeper's fate remains uncertain amid reports of foreign offers, with Al-Hilal's management weighing several options — keeping him, excluding him from the domestic league list while retaining him for the AFC Champions League Elite only, or selling him to free up a foreign player slot. 2) Right-back crisis: this position currently looks the most troubling, with Portugal's João Cancelo close to leaving without management yet moving to negotiate a clear replacement. Hamad Al-Yami remains the only available option at a position considered vital to coach Simone Inzaghi's system, which relies heavily on full-back overlaps. 3) Benzema's situation: the French striker's future remains unclear as the club seeks to sign a world-class replacement striker, with scenarios ranging from excluding him from the domestic list and keeping him solely for Asian competitions, to terminating his contract altogether should a higher-caliber striker arrive. 4) Salem Al-Dawsari's role: the team captain finds himself in a delicate position, wishing to finish his career at Al-Hilal while refusing to accept a substitute role, particularly with the club nearing deals for Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville and French forward Ousmane Dembélé, which could force him to accept reduced minutes or seek a club that guarantees him a starting spot.