Inzaghi Faces Criticism Over Al‑Bulaihi's Exclusion

Simone Inzaghi has walked into his first storm at Al‑Hilal before a ball has even been kicked in the Roshn League.

On the eve of Friday night’s opener against Al‑Faisaly, the Italian coach explained in his press conference that he had kept Ali Al‑Bulaihi out of group training because he wanted to watch the young players more closely. It sounded simple enough. It did not land that way.

The comment triggered a fierce response from former Saudi Arabia international Hussein Abdulghani, who openly questioned both the logic and the professionalism behind the decision.

Speaking on the “Nadina” TV programme, Abdulghani said: “Inzaghi’s words are strange and surprising to me. 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.”

Then he twisted the knife.

“Is Benzema 20 years old, or Koulibaly 21?” he asked sarcastically, pointing straight at the age profile of some of the league’s biggest stars. “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 goes beyond tactics or rotation. It is about how a club of Al‑Hilal’s stature treats one of its long-serving pillars.

“Al‑Bulaihi gave a lot to Al‑Hilal,” he insisted. “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.”

As Al‑Hilal launch a new league campaign with a new coach and a dressing room full of heavyweight names, the handling of one veteran defender has already opened up an uncomfortable debate: how does Saudi football treat those who built the platform the stars now stand on?