The Saudi paper said that the decision to release Welton came after Al-Taeb became the fourth foreign player in the squad alongside the Brazilian trio of Marcelo Rodriguez, Welton and Rodrigo.

Saudi League regulations allow the participation of only three foreign players, which mean that one of the four foreigners would only be playing in regional and continental competitions.

Welton, who joined Hilal on a one-year-contract worth $200 thousand last month, was first to be shown the door after as he didn’t convince neither Hilal board members nor Portuguese coach Jose Peixeiro in the pre-season games he played in.