He played his last match for Shahin in a 2–0 victory against Persepolis where both goals were on Ghalenoei’s assists. He left the team in the middle of the 1987–88 season and signed with the Qatari club of Al-Sadd.He signed a one-and-a-half years contract with Al-Sadd in 1987. He helped his side to two domestic league titles and one Emir of Qatar (FA Cup) title. Al-Sadd also won 1988–89 edition of AFC Champions League in spring of 1989 after defeating Al-Rasheed in the final. However Ghalenoei had already left the club and returned to Iran, and thus was not a member of the Asian champions squad.