Al Hilal Pride

Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal are not in the Club World Cup to make money or to travel, they have a big ambition: to prove they are good enough to sit at the same table as Real Madrid, Man City or any other big team. And perhaps, they are getting very close to that.

Al Hilal have big ambitions at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

When the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ kicked off in the United States, many assumed it would be an upgraded version of the summer tours where European clubs field backup squads to maintain form, collect rights money and promote their image. But not everyone is there for the money.

A team from the Middle East, with a strong financial background, carrying ambitions beyond checks - that is Al Hilal.

Great ambition

After the win over Pachuca to secure a place in the round of 16, coach Simone Inzaghi said bluntly: “We didn’t come here to play. The goal is to be among the best teams in the world .” It was a statement that was both arrogant and profound – especially when the spokesperson was Inzaghi himself, who just a few weeks ago led Inter Milan to the Champions League final.

Perhaps no team outside Europe has ever set itself such grand ambitions as Al Hilal. But their confidence is not arrogant.

Al Hilal has money - lots of money - thanks to the backing of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). But more importantly, they have strategy, foundation, people and are gradually building the image of an "emerging giant" on the world football map.

Al Hilal is currently managed by Simone Inzaghi.

The signing of Simone Inzaghi just four days after his Inter defeat to PSG was a statement of power. This was not a retirement deal, not a retirement adventure.

Inzaghi was still at his peak, linked with hot seats at Manchester United and Barcelona. But he chose Al Hilal - a destination that sounded strange, but was looking like a "super project".

Under Inzaghi, Al Hilal held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the group stage and kept a clean sheet against FC Salzburg. They finished the group with five points, conceding just one goal - a record that rivals any strong team. And most importantly, Al Hilal demonstrated tactical maturity, defensive prowess, and a serious competitive spirit that was no less than the European giants.

Methodical investment strategy

But to understand Al Hilal today, we need to look at the deep restructuring process within Saudi Arabian football. After Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 2023, the country's football entered a period of explosion.

Al Hilal immediately responded with the blockbuster Neymar from PSG for 90 million euros. Although injury limited Neymar to only 7 matches, the deal still put Al Hilal on the global media map.

Al Hilal's squad is packed with big names.

Not stopping at buying stars, they also "headhunt" for strategic positions. Esteve Calzada - former commercial director of City Football Group, who helped turn Man City into a global brand - has become CEO of Al Hilal since early 2024. Along with Cancelo, Rúben Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Koulibaly, Mitrovic... Calzada is the perfect piece for this team's expansion ambitions.

“This is not a marketing campaign. This is real football, real competition. And we want to go as far as we can,” Calzada asserted. The upcoming match against Man City in the round of 16 is therefore symbolic: not only is it a big game, but it is also a contest between two global football models – one established, the other emerging.

Without Bruno Fernandes or Victor Osimhen - the two stars they pursued in the special transfer window - Al Hilal have been consistent and effective. In Saudi Arabia, they are not only the most successful club in history but also a national symbol.

Even fans of rival teams like Al Nassr or Al Ittihad temporarily put aside their hatred to cheer for Al Hilal on the world stage. A rare image, and a testament to the role of this team as a “flagship”.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing, though. After losing the SPL and reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, Jorge Jesus was sacked. Finishing second was seen as a failure - and that's the pressure Inzaghi felt.

“They call Al Hilal the Real Madrid of Saudi Arabia,” Calzada said. “And like Real, there is no such thing as being satisfied with second place.”

Today’s Al Hilal is no longer a “rich kid trying to imitate”. They have a system, a foundation, and a direction. Financial strength is only a necessary condition. The sufficient condition is organizational ability, development strategy, and global thinking - something that Calzada, Inzaghi, and the international stars are gradually realizing.

A match against Man City is a big test, but also a great opportunity for Al Hilal to prove that they are not inferior. And if they do, a “new power” in world football is truly being formed – not in Europe, but in the desert of Saudi Arabia. A power shift is beginning. And Al Hilal, clearly, are not just guests. They want to be hosts.

Source: https://znews.vn/ngao-nghe-al-hilal-post1564732.html