News Focus
- Simone Inzaghi will leave Al-Hilal when the current Saudi Pro League campaign concludes
- The Italian coach joined the Riyadh-based club last summer on a lucrative two-year contract worth €26 million per season
- Recent changes in the club’s ownership have prompted a review of expensive player acquisitions that failed to meet targets
- Inzaghi now returns to the European managerial market after spending less than one year in the Middle East
- The former Inter Milan boss recently disclosed details about his emotional exit from the Serie A giants in 2024
Simone Inzaghi is preparing to end his brief spell in Saudi Arabia. The experienced Italian manager will depart Al-Hilal once the team completes its final league fixture of the season.
His exit comes just twelve months after he signed a prestigious two-year deal valued at €26 million annually. Sources within the kingdom indicate that the separation is now certain, despite the contract having another year to run.
The decision follows a recent takeover of the club by new owners. These administrators have reportedly raised concerns about several high-profile player purchases that did not deliver results on the pitch. Darwin Núñez stands out as the most notable expensive signing who struggled to justify his price tag.
This development places Inzaghi back among the available coaches in Europe. He must now decide whether to seek employment in his native Italy or consider offers from other top leagues across the continent.
Earlier this month, the 48-year-old provided insight into his previous departure from Inter Milan. He explained that the separation occurred very rapidly following the Champions League final.
“We gathered at Beppe Marotta’s residence two days after the match in Monaco,” he stated. “Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin attended the discussion. I expressed my need for a fresh challenge because I felt our cycle at the club had reached its natural end. The directors wished for me to stay, yet they respected my choice. We parted as friends, and that friendship remains.”
He added one crucial condition regarding that decision. “Had we won the Champions League trophy, I would have remained at Inter,” he admitted. The coach also revealed that he had rejected approaches from other clubs in previous seasons before finally accepting the opportunity in Saudi Arabia.