Benzema back-up: Meite wonder goal shows much to come from teen talent
Benzema back-up: Meite wonder goal shows much to come from teen talent Mohamed Meite has had to bide his time since arriving at Al Hilal in the winter transfer window at the beginning of February. Coming into a squad packed with striking talent in Karim Benzema , Darwin Nunez and Marcos Leonardo , and still only 18 years old, the former Rennes forward was always going to have to wait for his moment. And, while Meite debuted in the Roshn Saudi League in the high-profile Matchweek 20 encounter with title rivals Al Ahli and then came on for the final minute in the win 11 days later against Al Ettifaq, he hadn’t featured in the top flight since mid-February.
His time on the RSL pitch totalled 15 minutes. However, that changed last Saturday, with Meite handed his first start by Simone Inzaghi for title-chasing Al Hilal’s clash with fifth-placed Al Taawoun. Of course, the result was far from ideal for the 2023-24 RSL champions’ championship challenge, with Al Hilal dropping points in a 2-2 draw.
Yet the performance of Meite had everyone talking - especially about his stunning opening goal moments before half-time. With the score at Kingdom Arena locked at 0-0 and the interval fast approaching, initially Meite appeared to be backed into a spot near the corner flag. But he displayed both his power and potential with a deft touch to turn his opponent, explode into the penalty area, and then lash home a powerful shot underneath a helpless Mailson in the Al Taawoun goal.
In a flash, and thanks to Meite’s magic, Al Hilal had their lead. It was a breathtaking moment that underscored the raw potential of a player that, only a matter of months ago, was understood to have some of the most prominent clubs in world football queuing up to sign him. Those reportedly included Manchester United, Chelsea and European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Still, Al Hilal’s acquisition of the prodigiously talented teenager almost slipped under the radar amid the headline-grabbing transfer of Benzema from champions Al Ittihad . That said, just as the Ballon d’Or winner’s recruitment was significant, so too was that of the French-born Ivorian - albeit for many different reasons. Having been so coveted, Meite's decision to choose Al Hilal as the best place to develop his game, and hopefully carry him to the next level, represented another sizeable step in the RSL’s evolution on the international scene.
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