Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Last year’s AFC Champions League runners-up Al Hilal have enlisted the services of Greece international Georgios Samaras, who joins the 13-time Saudi Arabian champions on loan from English Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion.
Samaras, who has made five appearances for WBA since joining them after a successful stint with Scottish champions Celtic, has signed with Al Hilal until June 30 although the Riyadh giants have the option to buy him permanently at the end of the loan spell.
The 29-year-old striker was officially unveiled as Al Hilal’s newest recruit during a press conference at the clubs Prince Fahad bin Salman Media Centre, with the former Heerenveen and Manchester City forward being handed the number 77 shirt.
Samaras joins an impressive Al Hilal attack that already features reigning AFC Player of the Year Nassir Al Shamrani and veteran striker and club captain Yasser Al Qahtani and can play on the left wing or as a conventional target man.
“I'm here to play football and there is no difference for me,” said the 6 feet 4 inch, 29-year-old when asked about his favourite position.
“It will depend on coach Reghecampf’s view and where I fit in with the team’s plan.”
Al Hilal, who lost the 2014 ACL final 1-0 on aggregate to Western Sydney Wanderers, embark on their 11th AFC Champions League campaign on February 25 when they host Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent in their Group C curtain raiser at the King Fahd Stadium.
Photo: AFP