Al-Ittihad midfielder ruled out for the season after friendly injury

Al-Ittihad midfielder Hamed Al-Ghamdi has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious injury during the club's pre-season campaign. The 27-year-old has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The injury occurred during a 3-2 friendly victory against South African side Orlando Pirates last Tuesday. The match took place in Marbella, Spain, where the team is currently holding their training camp ahead of the new campaign.

The player is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by an extensive rehabilitation program. A return to action for the midfielder this season is considered highly unlikely.

This development comes as a significant blow for Al-Ittihad, who are already dealing with midfield depth issues following an injury to Mamadou Doumbia. The club is now expected to accelerate their search for reinforcements, with several midfielders linked, including Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Raphael Onyedika, and Wilfred Ndidi.