Simone Inzaghi Faces Criticism Over Ali Al-Bulaihi's Exclusion

Simone Inzaghi walked into his pre‑match press conference expecting questions about tactics and Al-Hilal’s opener against Al-Faisaly in the Roshn League. He walked out at the centre of a storm over Ali Al-Bulaihi.

The Italian coach openly admitted he had kept the veteran defender away from group training in the build-up to Friday evening’s clash, explaining it as a chance to focus on younger players. That single explanation lit the fuse.

On the “Nadina” television programme, former Saudi national team star Hussein Abdulghani tore into the logic behind Inzaghi’s stance.

“Inzaghi's words are strange and surprising to me,” Abdulghani said. “He says that Ali Al-Bulaihi has grown older and that he wants to give the youngsters a chance, and that is illogical given the squad he has.”

The criticism did not stop there. Abdulghani turned to sarcasm to drive home his point, highlighting the age profile of other big names in the league.

“Is Benzema 20 years old, or Koulibaly 21?” he asked. “The coach says anything to justify excluding Al-Bulaihi, but I see that the handling of the player is not professional.”

For Abdulghani, the issue runs deeper than one selection call. It is about how a club of Al-Hilal’s stature treats a player who has been a pillar of its recent success.

“Al-Bulaihi gave a lot to Al-Hilal,” he concluded. “The management should have satisfied him and sold him in a normal way, instead of dealing with him in this strange manner. Saudi clubs deal with the players they do not want in such an unprofessional way.”

On the eve of a new Roshn League campaign, Al-Hilal’s first major debate is not about systems or signings, but about respect, legacy, and how a modern giant manages the fading lights of its core.