The Silent Transfer and the Clickbait Trap: Lessons from Richard Rios to Al-Ittihad

Lach Tray Stadium is empty, but the goal still holds the shadow of a goalkeeper waiting. I am used to afternoons like this – when football does not roar, but quietly rolls on the grass. At 35, I have stood outside the fence for 19 years, observing forgotten people. Today, I am not following a match in Hai Phong, but a loan deal in Saudi Arabia – where the press is screaming about a name that does not appear in the article. The headline I read this morning: "New signing for Al-Nassr: Al-Ittihad gives up Al-Qahwa Al-Arabi in favour of Reus". It sounds like it involves Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Reus, but the content inside is completely different. It is the story of Richard Rios, the Colombian midfielder, leaving Benfica for Al-Ittihad on a one-season loan. No Al-Nassr, no Reus. Only a 26-year-old player, 51 matches, 8 goals, 6 assists – numbers that are not bad, but not history-making either. So why are we led by a misleading headline? I remember my saying: "People may forget your name, but they cannot forget the sound of your footsteps on the pitch." Richard Rios is not a star, not a name that creates a media shock. He is one of the forgotten ones – like Nguyen Van Hoa, the young player I wrote about in 2026, who was pushed down to the First Division after 47 minutes of play. But there is one difference: Rios is being placed into a money machine of the Saudi Pro League, where everything is exaggerated. When I analyze this transfer, I cannot help but think about the broader context. Al-Ittihad, a title-challenging club, has recruited four midfielders in this summer transfer window: Rakan Kaabi from Al-Feiha, Mokhtar Ali from Al-Ettifaq, Dion Lopy from Almeria, and now Rios from Benfica. They are not buying big stars; they are buying squad depth. This reminds me of how Vietnamese clubs like Hai Phong build their squads – not with blockbuster deals, but with small, quiet pieces. But there is a difference: Al-Ittihad has massive financial backing from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). They pay 3-4 million euros for a loan deal and cover Rios's full salary. Meanwhile, Benfica bought Rios from Palmeiras for 16 million euros just a year ago. Now they are loaning him out for a fraction of that, with no buy option. What does this say? Perhaps Benfica wants to reduce wages, or they believe Rios can increase his value after a regular season in Saudi. But it could also be that they realized Rios is not good enough for top-tier European football. I have followed many transfers like this. In 2026, when the pandemic left Lach Tray Stadium empty, I wrote about goalkeeper Tran Minh Long – who suffered depression from playing in an atmosphere without applause. He found empathy from fans, and that saved his career. Richard Rios is at a similar crossroads. He came to Benfica with high expectations, but only had 51 matches, 8 goals, 6 assists – not bad, but not enough to become a mainstay. Now he goes to Saudi, where football can easily swallow players who do not adapt. But I do not think Rios is a reckless gamble. To me, this is a smart transfer. Al-Ittihad is building a squad with depth, and Rios is an important tactical piece. He is a box-to-box midfielder, able to run endlessly, support defense and attack. In a league with a congested schedule like the Saudi Pro League, players like him are essential. I remember the saying: "I go to the pitch not to see who scores, but to see who gets up after a missed shot." Rios has fallen at Benfica, but he is still standing and moving forward. However, there is a bigger issue: the clickbait headline. Why would a major outlet like Goal.com publish such a misleading headline? Because they want to attract attention from Al-Nassr fans – the club with Cristiano Ronaldo – and those interested in Marco Reus. But the truth is the article has nothing to do with them. This reminds me of another saying of mine: "The dressing room does not lie. It only stays silent enough for you to hear the truth." Media is the same. They can create false stories, but the truth will always emerge. From a tactical perspective, Rios may not be a groundbreaking addition, but he will help Al-Ittihad control the midfield better. In the upcoming match against Al-Nassr, if Rios is registered in time, he could be a substitute option or a marker against the opponent's creative midfielders. But I do not think he will start immediately. The Al-Ittihad coach will likely use him cautiously, allowing him to adapt to the new environment. Interestingly, this transfer happens right before the big derby. It is a psychological move. Al-Ittihad wants to send a message to Al-Nassr that they are getting stronger. But I wonder: does signing four midfielders in one window create instability in the dressing room? Too many new players can threaten existing ones. I remember the summer of 2026, when Hoa was pushed out, and I witnessed the silence in Hai Phong's dressing room. It was a silence full of pressure. But perhaps Al-Ittihad knows what they are doing. They have big stars like Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté, and they need young, energetic players to share the load. Rios, at 26, is at his peak. He may not be a big name, but he is a silent worker. And that is what Saudi football needs – not just stars, but people willing to fight. I remember the story of Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, the 63-year-old fan who walked 300 km from Hai Phong to Russia to watch the 2026 World Cup. He did not speak English, but he had a pure love for football. Richard Rios also has a similar love. He left Colombia, went to Portugal, then to Saudi – not for money, but because he wants to play. And that is why I believe he will succeed. But I want to emphasize: do not let clickbait headlines fool you. Look at the facts. Al-Ittihad is building a strong team, not with blockbuster deals, but with small pieces like Rios. And that is how football truly operates. Where there is the sound of a rolling ball, there is a beat keeper. I am just the listener. In that context, I realize that Vietnamese football also has similar lessons. We often get caught up in expensive foreign signings, but forget the domestic players who quietly contribute. I remember the saying: "Moscow has snow, Hai Phong has sea wind. Football brings both into one story." Richard Rios may never come to Hai Phong, but his story – a forgotten one seeking opportunity – is a common story of football. Finally, I want to talk about the most important thing: patience. Football is not a sprint. Al-Ittihad has signed four midfielders in one window, but they will need time to gel. Rios too. He needs time to adapt to a new environment, to the hot climate, to a different style of play. But if he is patient, he can become an important part of the team. And that is what I have learned from years of observing football: not everyone shines immediately, but those who know how to get up after failure will always have a chance. I will watch the match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr on Saturday. Not to see who scores, but to see if Richard Rios gets on the pitch. And if he does, I will observe how he walks on the field – whether he keeps his rhythm, or will be swallowed by pressure. Because, as I said, people may forget your name, but they cannot forget the sound of your footsteps on the pitch. In a football world increasingly dominated by money and media, stories like Rios's are a reminder that football still has real people. They are not the stars on magazine covers, but they are the beat keepers of the match. And I, as an observer, will always listen to the sound of their ball rolling. As I leave Lach Tray Stadium this afternoon, I think about Richard Rios. He may never know me, but his story has touched me. Because wherever there is football, there is hope. And hope is something that no clickbait headline can kill. I will end this article with a question: Are we too focused on big names, forgetting the silent workers – those who truly make the match? Perhaps it is time we look beyond the headlines, and listen to the footsteps of the forgotten ones.