The technician would have a white paper on the market and a monstrous engagement for three years as well as finding Milinkovic, his loyal to Lazio. The only node: many samples expiring in 2026
Anyone who phones from Saudi Arabia, hardly goes unnoticed. Simone Inzaghi, before giving an answer, has a future still to be written and a Champions League final that could radically change his career scenarios. Meanwhile, the Al Hilal has already knocked on the door with a monstrous offer of 50 million euros for the next three years. The Riad team, after last year’s Triplete, concluded 2024-25 with a single trophy: the Arabia Super Cup, won in August against CR7. Jorge Jesus has left the bench, who is now still without a new master. Who knows if a message from Milinkovic-Savic will be able to make Simone falter, who would find a talented team, not too young and looking for redemption.
Accidents, drops and goodbyes: an anomalous season
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This year, Al Hilal has shown how difficult it is to confirm after a season – last one – stellar. Championship won with 96 points of unbeaten, a historical record of 34 consecutive victories between September and April, triumph in Super Cup and national cup: an absolute domain. Of the chopped car created by Jorge Jesus the past season, very little remained today. Waiting for the last day, in Saudi League the Al Hilal is second and will close behind Benzema’s al ittihad, already champion. In the Asian Champions League he went out in the semifinal, while in the national cup he lost to penalties in the final. The only (lean) consolation was the Super Cup, won in August. Jesus paid dearly both the numerous injuries to his key players and a drop in performance – in part physiological – of some singles. Mitrovic, the focus of 40 goals last year, “stopped” to 27, even jumping two months for injury. Bono was responsible for some goals given, conceding 52. Malcom was involved, Neymar greeted definitively and Ruben Neves was less incisive. The exceptions? Milinkovic-Savic, confirmed a great scratch (16 goals, best loot in his career), and above all the historic AL-Dawsari captain, protagonist of a super year of 26 goals and 17 assists in 46 games.
The challenge waiting for Simone
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Inzaghi, if he arrives, would find a team accustomed to playing with the four -year -old line, two medians, a trocar, two quick outsiders and a breakdown. A game system not particularly similar to the Piacenza technician, who has always been faithful to Lazio and Inter to the three -way line, with two all -end exterior, three central midfielders and two points capable of dialogue with each other. On the market, the Al Hilal has invested just over a hundred million: Marcos Leonardo from Benfica arrived – second rapid 26 goals in season – Joao Cancelo, curbed by some physical ailments despite the 11 assists provided, the Saudi full -back Al -Harbi (paid 25 million) and the Brazilian right wing born in 2004 Kaio Cesar, who closed with 3 goals and 3 assists. Data in hand, the Al Hilal is the second oldest team of the Saudi League (28.3 years of average), behind Al Khaleej only. A factor that could play in favor of Inzaghi, able to empathize and better manage groups with expert players.
Sergej and Simone: a partnership to be rewritten in Arabia
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To sponsor to Simone could be an old standard bearer, Milinkovic-Savic. If the Serbian, today, has become a total midfielder, able to guarantee a double figure of goals and assists in a single season, much of the merit goes to the Piacenza coach. In 2016, Sergej was still looking for a precise tactical identity, after an anonymous season with Pioli on the bench. Inzaghi, as soon as he climbed the leaders of Lazio, tried it first on the trocar, then from the mezzala, until he transformed it into a modern tuttocampista. Together they conquered two Italian Super Cups and an Italian Cup. For Milinkovic 44 goals and 38 assists in five biancocelesti seasons with Simone on the bench. The relationship between the two has always been excellent, even if not without small controversial episodes: in 2021, during the discussed passage of Inzaghi to Inter – not well seen from the Lazio environment – some social “likes” of the Serbian were emerged to post -critical posts against the coach.
Ambition and pressure to manage
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Inzaghi could thus become the second Italian technician of the Saudi League, after Stefano Pioli. At Al Hilal he would have a white paper, a condition foreign to him after years spent working with zero parameters and low-cost purchases between Lazio and Inter. President Bin Nafel is ambitious, always close to the team and works closely with the Spanish general manager Esteve Calzada, ex Manchester City. The Al Hilal is the most titled club of Arabia and aims to return to dominate in the international field – the Asian Champions League has been missing for four years – with always close fans, between choirs and choreography (just review the presentation of Neymar). On the other hand, however, there is a strong media influence: Jorge Jesus, exonerated at the beginning of May, was harshly contested by the fans on social media after the elimination of the Asian Champions League in the semifinal. The same destiny touched Neymar, acclaimed and despised in a few weeks. In short, for Inzaghi it would be a challenge, primarily with himself. It would find a motivated group, with desire for revenge and a winning past. Finally, not to be underestimated, the contracts contracts: Milinkovic, Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Koulibaly and Bono are all expiring 2026. Much of their future will depend on the next technical guide.
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