Analysis: How the Bad Timing of Signings Like Benzema & Kanté Has Influenced the Season Of Al-Ittihad

The two signings have shown their worth on the pitch, but was the problem with the timing of announcing such signatures? One of the Saudi pundits in the “Diwaniya” TV program has pointed out this hypothesis, suggesting that when The Tigers secured the services of these two players at the very beginning of the transfer market, they felt like they were done, and they did not have other needs.

The Black and Yellows have then seen their rivals bolstering their respective ranks and filling their voids, while they have only added a few additional names like Fabinho, Luiz Felipe, or Faisal Al-Ghamdi. SaudiWorldFootball.com’s POV: This hypothesis is right to some point, but to be fair to Al-Ittihad, they have kept pushing to sign a notable center-back.

They have tried with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, or Jean-Clair Todibo, in addition to going all in for Mohamed Salah, and this was another problem, as they did not have a genuine backup option for the Egyptian superstar should the transfer not come through. Al-Ittihad desperately made a late attempt for Tottenham striker Richarlison, which was turned down by Spurs, as they had no time to find a replacement, and they kept Romarinho on stand-by, to see if they could sign any winger before responding to the offer of Al-Shabab for the player. They eventually kept the player in the squad.