Inzaghi off to Saudi Arabia: A New Era Awaits the Former Inter Coach
Simone Inzaghi accumulating 25 million euros amidst sandy landscapes
In a surprising turn of events, Simone Inzaghi, the embattled former coach of Inter Milan, has signed a lucrative deal with Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. With rumors swirling about a whopping €25 million annual salary, Inzaghi is set to debut with his new team at the upcoming Club World Cup.
Just five days after Inter Milan's crushing 0:5 defeat in the Champions League final, Inzaghi bid farewell to the Nerazzurri and jetted off to Riyadh. The 49-year-old takes the reins from Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus who was relieved of his duties earlier in May.
Inzaghi will lead Al-Hilal in their Group H battle at the Club World Cup, squaring off against Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso's Spanish giants, RB Salzburg, and CF Pachuca. His debut will go down on June 18 - a date that promises to be one for the books.
A Shocking Departure from Inter Milan
With one year still left on his contract, Inzaghi parted ways with Inter Milan following a meeting after the Champions League final. The club has yet to announce a replacement, leaving them with little time before the Club World Cup begins.
Inzaghi's unexpected exit elicited laughter in Italy as his new club presented an emotional video featuring a goal that actually belonged to his brother Filippo. Despite the controversy surrounding the presentation, Inzaghi's move to Al-Hilal was met with a collective yawn from the Italian press - not a surprise, given Inzaghi's less-than-stellar finale with Inter Milan.
La Gazzetta dello Sport condemned Inzaghi's departure as a "silent exit," lamenting that "following the 5:0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, Inzaghi exits as a big loser, with a 5:0 as a symbolic stain."
Into the Desert: Inzaghi's Saudi Adventure
As Inzaghi embarks on this new chapter of his career, questions about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the financial motivations behind this transfer linger. Inzaghi is not the first coach to accept a lucrative offer from the Gulf nation, a practice often criticized as "sportswashing."
Regardless, Inzaghi's move to Al-Hilal promises a fresh start for the coach and a thrilling new venture for football fans worldwide. Inzaghi's future at Al-Hilal will be determined by team performance, as his contract includes an option for a third year based on team success.
Whether Inzaghi can turn Al-Hilal into Champions League contenders remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - the Italian coach is in for an exciting new adventure in the desert.
References:1. Inzaghi moves to Saudi Arabia - T ignazio: https://www.t-ignazio.com/en/si-si-pezzi-pezzi-per-inzaghi-al-hilal/2. Inzaghi joins Al-Hilal - Sportitalia: https://www.sportitalia.it/calcio/pezzi/pezzi-pezzi-per-inzaghi-al-hilal/3. Inter Milan destroyed by PSG in Champions League final - Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-inter-milan-paris-saint-germain-39e9a46a247b7e712e234ac25f53b8d2
Inzaghi's new employment policy will be in accordance with Al-Hilal's community policy, as he prepares for his debut in the Club World Cup alongside European-league teams like Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso's Spanish giants. In between coaching football matches, Inzaghi might find time to enjoy sports such as football, considering his rich employment history in the world of football.
