Orlando, Fla. – after arriving FIFA Club World Cup16 round round with a roundless draw FC SalzburgNew Al Hilal Coach Simone Injagi took a moment to explain why the tournament is so important for his team.
For many European clubs of America in this summer, it is difficult to avoid the feeling that the huge prize pot on the proposal is providing the main inspiration. Al Hilal, with an estimated of about $ 100 billion controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, does not require money.
According to Injagi, what they want is to show the world that they deserve a seat in the top table of football. They have already earned with a reliable 1-1 draw real Madrid In the group stage, and the next one is against a round -off -16 match Manchester City On Monday.
“We had to achieve our goal [being in] Group of best teams in the world, “said Injagi.” We were not coming here to have fun here. We were coming here to play a World Cup and we wanted to reach this stage. ,
It was speaking anjagi from Al Hilal in the Audi field, there is a proof of his high aspirations. A month ago, the Italian was on the touchline as its inter matching side lost Paris Saint Germain Champions League in the final. His record on inter – two Champions League Finals and A Siri a Title in four years-with his strategic simplicity and cruel passion, he was jointly made one of the most sought coaches in Europe, and he was first associated with jobs Manchester United And Barcelona,
But it was Al Hilal who provoked it. The conversation was kept secret before the Champions League final, and the deal was announced exactly four days after Inter’s defeat in Munich.
“This reflects our ambition,” Estave Calzada, Chief Executive Officer of Al Hilal, told ESPN. “It keeps us in a very good position to compete.”
Established in 1957, Al Hilal was not starting with scratches, but they have changed from the wave of investment in Saudi football. Cristiano Ronaldo’s move for Al Nasar in January 2023 Saudi Pro League In Spotlight, and Al Hilal followed it with him Gentico Signed Nemar PSG joined PSG after eight months for a fee of € 90 million. The injuries now limited -33 -year -old Brazil International to only seven demonstrations before returning to the Boyhood Club Santos, but the transfer placed Al Hilal on a global football map.
While most of the football fans once outside Saudi Arabia struggled to name any of their domestic teams, it is now not uncommon to see Al Hilal shirts for sale in Europe. He has found more than 40 million followers on social media, which is comparable to something Premier League Club.
His squad for the Club World Cup is full of familiar names, including Kalidau Kulibali, Renan Lodi, Sergez Milinkicic-Civil, Alekfar, Ruben Neos And Joao canceled,
And these are not just players who have been poisoned from Europe: Like Canceo, Calzada is also a former employee of Manchester City.
For more than a decade, an important part of the city’s off-field success-CEO Ferran Soriano, Sporting Director TXIKI BEGIRISTAIN and former Chief Footballer Operations Officer Omar Berada (were also together in Group Barcelona) along with Calzada before going to Al Hill in January 2024, increased into the situation of the city football group.
“It will be very emotional to reunite with my friends [for the round of 16 game vs. City]”Calzada said.” I worked there for 12 years, and this is probably the first time I would like Manchester City lose. ,
One day’s ambitions in SPL are the ambitions to be identified as one of the top five leagues in the world, and for Kailajada, like Injagi, like Injagi, Club World Cup is a chance to see how Al Hilal measures.
“This is a real opportunity, especially when you play against the choice of Real Madrid and now Manchester City,” he said. “This is a very big tournament, and we took it as a great opportunity, first, to compete, but also to show our level.”
Al Hilal was eager to make another splash that he attempted to sign Man United Midfielder Bruno Fernandes And Napoli striker Victor Osimhen Specially created in FIFA in transfer window.
Even without those reinforcement, five points out of three games – and just one target were considered – was sufficient to progress from Group H. It was only one of the three groups in which an European team was abolished.
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How Al-Hilal managed to take a point from Real Madrid
Real Madrid and Al-Hilal shared points in an exciting starting game for both in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Back in Saudi Arabia, the mission to represent SPL on the world stage has crossed traditional club rivals, and there are reports of fans of Al Nasra and Al Nasra and Al Eyetihad who show public support for Al Hilal.
“It’s not surprising for us because we look at the level of our team and we see how the level is moving,” Calzda says. “That’s why we have an opportunity to show it to everyone, it is surprising. It’s not a marketing play, it is a competition, and we want to be possible as far as possible.”
City will begin the game as a huge favorite in Orlando on Monday, with especially with the increasing injuries with Al Hilal, but still have high expectations for their opponents, historically Saudi’s most successful club.
Inzaghi is only in charge because George Jesus was dismissed in May after the disappearance of Al Eyelad from the SPL title and the Asian Champions League Elite’s semi -finals. At least at home, the second place is not enough.
“He calls Al Hilal to Real Madrid of Saudi Arabia,” Calzada said. “There is a responsibility because everyone expects to win any game; Like the upcoming runner -up … last season is definitely not successful for us.”
Success in the Club World Cup has already been achieved. Its purpose was to test itself against the best, and a good performance against the city will only emphasize the feeling that Al Hilal is not far from matching the elite of Europe.
“It does not seem smaller than the big clubs I have worked.” “The club was run very successfully, and now just a more ambitious plan. We want to go more global. We have gone to a new stadium, we are modernizing. The foundation was there, and it can only be better with what we are trying to do.”
