LONDON: Al-Hilal have moved to ensure the Saudi Pro League title remains in Riyadh for another season by signing Olympiakos captain Alberto Botia.
Botia, 29, has signed a two-year deal with Al-Hilal with the option of a further year. He represents the first new signing under new manager Jorge Jesus. Jesus was in Dubai on Tuesday, along with club president Samir Al-Jaber, to seal the deal for the former Spain youth international who arrives on a free transfer. A statement from Al-Hilal said that the chairman of the General Sports Authority will be “funding Botia’s contract cost.”
Botia is unlikely to be the only arrival, especially as last season’s runners-up Al-Ahli have already made four signings, including former Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid playmaker Jose Manuel Jurado. Al-Hilal have been linked with a move for Algeria and Leicester City striker Islam Slimani, who worked under Jesus at Sporting Lisbon.
Supported by HE the Chairman of General Sports Authority Mr. @Turki_alalshikh .. #Alhilal President Mr. @SamiAlJaber signs Olympiacos Captain and defender Alberto Botía .#Alhilal_Video pic.twitter.com/nEYw2U8Vve
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) June 26, 2018
Botia is the first through the door, though, and he comes with an impressive pedigree, arriving at the peak of his powers. He was schooled at Barcelona, playing for the club’s B team nearly 60 times and making one appearance for the first team in 2009. He went on to play for Sporting Gijon, Sevilla and Elche before moving to Olympiakos in 2014 for €2 million ($2.3 million). There he won the league title three seasons on the trot and the double in 2015. He was captain of Olympiakos and plays at the heart of the defense so he could be the successor to Osama Hawsawi at Al-Hilal.
The Saudi Arabia captain made a surprise revelation at the end of the final game of the season by admitting that he would be leaving the Saudi Pro League champions.
“There’s nothing (on offer) at the moment, but you can say it’s almost finished with Al-Hilal, it was my final season,” he said. “The agreement was for two seasons and two years only.”
The central defender, who has played 131 matches for his country, moved back to Al-Hilal in 2016 after the club paid SR21 million ($5.5 million) to rivals Al-Ahli and won two consecutive league titles and the 2017 King’s Cup in his second spell at the Riyadh giants. But the defender appears to have played his last game for Al-Za’eem in the title-clinching 4-1 win over Al-Fateh.
