Al-Hilal’s Transfer Pursuit Falters Before Club World Cup

Sports news » Al-Hilal’s Transfer Pursuit Falters Before Club World Cup

3 months ago 78

Al-Hilal aimed to assemble a squad capable of competing with Europe`s elite within the limited pre-Club World Cup transfer window. Their efforts, however, have yielded limited success so far, raising questions about the feasibility of rapidly building a top-tier global competitor.

While the Club World Cup generates little excitement among European clubs beyond financial considerations, it holds significant importance in Saudi Arabia. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees top Pro League clubs, sees global football as a key tool for enhancing Saudi Arabia`s soft power internationally. Making a strong run and potentially defeating major European teams like PSG or Manchester City is viewed as a powerful way to achieve this.

This strategic vision fueled significant investment in clubs like Al-Ittihad, who acquired stars like Karim Benzema and N`Golo Kante for the 2023 tournament hosted in Saudi Arabia. Ambition has only grown for Al-Hilal, Asia`s most decorated club and often seen as PIF`s premier project. With Real Madrid, Pachuca, and Red Bull Salzburg on their schedule next week, the club planned aggressive spending before the initial transfer window deadline on Tuesday.

According to reports, Al-Hilal prioritized strengthening four key areas: striker, central midfield, left back, and appointing a new head coach. As of earlier this week, they had only successfully secured their top choice in one position. Simone Inzaghi has reportedly arrived as the world`s highest-paid coach, but significant player acquisitions have not yet materialized.

The most dramatic transfer decisions have centered around the striker position. Initially, there was hope that Cristiano Ronaldo could be loaned to Al-Hilal for the Club World Cup as part of contract extension discussions. Even FIFA president Gianni Infantino reportedly supported the idea. However, discussions with Saudi government officials indicated the Portuguese forward was skeptical about a temporary move to a rival of Al-Nassr, instead advocating for his current squad to be reinforced.

Victor Osimhen is reportedly next on Al-Hilal`s target list. Sources suggest the four-time Asian champions have not given up on signing the Nigerian striker, potentially offering an improved salary from the initial $35 million annual proposal. Should they fail to sign Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig is believed to be their alternative. It remains uncertain if Sesko would move to the Pro League early in his career, but Al-Hilal has the financial capacity to meet RB Leipzig`s demands and offer Sesko a lucrative contract.

A left back acquisition appears more likely. Al-Hilal is reportedly nearing a deal for Roma`s Angelino. He was, however, a secondary option, with Theo Hernandez being the preferred target. They have struggled to convince the AC Milan star, who reportedly has concerns about how a move to Saudi Arabia might impact his chances of securing a spot in the France squad for next summer`s World Cup. An offer of $34.3 million for Nuno Tavares was also rejected by Lazio. Angelino performed well in Serie A last season and is expected to command a significant transfer fee, close to $32 million.

Similar difficulties have been encountered in midfield. Bruno Fernandes reportedly declined an offer worth nearly $90 million per year. Atalanta`s Ederson is also admired, but the Italian club`s sporting director confirmed over the weekend that no offer had been received from Al-Hilal.

Despite potential transfer setbacks, Al-Hilal`s current squad is not lacking in talent. Although a poor run of results earlier allowed Al-Ittihad to claim the domestic title, Al-Hilal possesses players who could improve even top Club World Cup sides. Ruben Neves and Malcom lead a strong contingent of Portuguese speakers, while Aleksandar Mitrovic has been scoring prolifically. Marcos Leonardo represents another priority: attracting promising young global talents. Salem Al-Dawsari, meanwhile, is arguably the most gifted Saudi Arabian player in the league.

This existing quality might still allow them to make an impact in the tournament. According to data analysis, Al-Hilal is one of only three non-European teams with a greater than 50 percent chance of advancing from their group. Finishing second could potentially set up a politically charged encounter with Manchester City in the round of 16. While no transfer window activity would make Al-Hilal anything less than significant underdogs against City (or even Juventus), the past couple of years suggest Al-Hilal will persistently pursue top talent. Their success in doing so will soon be put to the test.