Accusations and Doubts Surrounding Marcos Leonardo After Missing Training
Al-Hilal officially announced that Leonardo’s absence from Saturday’s training was due to family circumstances, as his mother was hospitalized without disclosing details about her health condition, which sparked a wave of controversy.
Strangely, this absence came just hours after the player shared a photo celebrating his twenty-second birthday with his mother, which led fans to question the reality of her illness.
On social media, angry comments increased, with some describing the management as weak, while others felt that the player was exploiting the current circumstances the team is going through to evade responsibility.
However, Leonardo broke his silence and posted an emotional message via the “Story” feature on his Instagram account, thanking Al-Hilal and its fans, and confirming that his mother’s recovery is the greatest gift he received on his birthday.
The player stated: “I thank the club and everyone who stood by me during this ordeal, and I hope everyone continues to pray for my mother until she recovers and returns home as soon as possible.”
Al-Hilal is currently going through tough times after being eliminated from the AFC Champions League and the King’s Cup, with coach Jorge Jesus being dismissed and Mohammed Al-Shalhoub temporarily taking over until the end of the season.
The team is currently in second place in the Roshan League with 62 points and is preparing to face Al-Raed on May 7, in a crucial match that could restore hope in the title race.
Marcos Leonardo joined Al-Hilal in the summer of 2024 from Benfica for 40 million euros, scoring 25 goals and providing 3 assists in 38 matches since his arrival.
