Is it truly possible to quickly assemble a team capable of competing with Europe`s elite within the short period between domestic league conclusions and the start of the Club World Cup? Al-Hilal has been trying to answer this question recently. The current answer appears to be largely negative.
While the Club World Cup may not generate much buzz in Europe outside of finance departments, it holds significant importance in Saudi Arabia. Decision-makers at the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns several leading Pro League clubs including Al-Hilal, view global football as a tool for Saudi soft power. What could better achieve this than challenging a team like Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City and making a deep run in what is potentially the most prestigious tournament accessible to Asian clubs?
This strategic thinking led Al-Ittihad to sign Karim Benzema and N`Golo Kante for the 2023 competition hosted in Saudi Arabia, although they couldn`t secure Mohamed Salah. This ambition has only grown for Al-Hilal, not only Asia`s most successful club but also considered PIF`s flagship team. With Real Madrid, Pachuca, and Red Bull Salzburg on their immediate horizon next week, Al-Hilal aimed for substantial investment before FIFA`s first transfer window closure for Club World Cup participants on Tuesday afternoon.
According to information gathered by CBS Sports, Al-Hilal prioritized strengthening four key positions: striker, central midfield, left back, and appointing a new head coach. As of Monday, success would mean addressing three of these, but the Riyadh club had only secured their primary target in one area. Simone Inzaghi has arrived as reportedly the most expensive coach globally, but the desired marquee player signings on the field are yet to materialize.
The striker position has seen the most dramatic developments. Initially, there was hope within PIF that Cristiano Ronaldo could be persuaded to join Al-Hilal on a loan for the Club World Cup as part of his contract negotiations. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also supported the idea of Ronaldo moving for the tournament. However, discussions with Saudi government officials revealed the Portuguese forward`s skepticism about a temporary switch to Al-Nassr`s rivals; he instead pushed for his current squad to be reinforced.
Victor Osimhen remains at the top of Al-Hilal`s transfer wishlist, and CBS Sports understands that the four-time Asian champions are not giving up on signing the Nigeria international, potentially offering him a salary increase beyond the initial $35 million per year proposal. Sources indicate that if Al-Hilal must abandon their pursuit of Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig is their next target. It`s unclear whether Sesko would be tempted to move to the Pro League so early in his career, but Al-Hilal possesses the financial capacity to meet RB Leipzig`s demands and offer Sesko a lucrative package.
A left back signing does seem more likely to happen. Sources suggest Al-Hilal is nearing a deal for Roma`s Angelino. However, Angelino was a secondary option, with Theo Hernandez of AC Milan being the preferred choice. They have struggled to convince Hernandez, who reportedly has concerns about how a move to the Saudi Pro League might affect his chances of securing a place in the France squad for next summer`s World Cup. They also saw a $34.3 million offer for Nuno Tavares rejected by Lazio. Angelino excelled in Serie A last season, and the 28-year-old is expected to command a significant transfer fee, likely close to $32 million.
Similar difficulties have arisen in midfield. Bruno Fernandes declined an offer that would have been worth nearly $90 million annually. Atalanta`s Ederson is admired, but Tony D`Amico, the Italian club`s sporting director, confirmed on Saturday that no official offer had been received from Al-Hilal.
It`s worth noting that even if Inzaghi`s side fails to make significant signings in this window, their current squad is far from lacking in talent. Despite a period of inconsistent results in January and February that saw Al-Ittihad claim the league title, Al-Hilal possesses players who could improve even strong teams at the Club World Cup. Ruben Neves and Malcom lead a talented group of Portuguese speakers, Aleksandar Mitrovic has been scoring goals with ease reminiscent of his Championship form, and Marcos Leonardo represents another key focus of Saudi recruitment – attracting promising young global talents. Furthermore, Salem Al-Dawsari is arguably the most gifted Saudi Arabian player in the league.
This existing quality might be sufficient to make an impact in the tournament regardless. According to Opta, Al-Hilal is one of only three non-European teams with over a 50 percent probability of advancing from their group. Finishing second could potentially lead to a round of 16 clash with Manchester City, a match with notable geopolitical undertones. There is likely nothing Al-Hilal could do in the transfer market to avoid being significant underdogs against City, nor would they be heavily favored against a team like Juventus. Nevertheless, based on the trends of the past couple of years, it appears little will deter Al-Hilal from trying to attract the world`s best players. The success of their recent efforts will soon become evident.
Al-Hilal Club World Cup Schedule (Group H)
- Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal: Wednesday, June 18, 3 p.m. ET
- Salzburg vs. Al-Hilal: Sunday, June 22, 6 p.m. ET
- Al-Hilal vs. Pachuca: Thursday, June 26, 9 p.m. ET
