Simone Inzaghi's Controversial Decision on Ali Al-Bulaihi
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 explained that he had kept the veteran defender away from group training because he wanted to “watch the young players.” On paper, a simple footballing decision. On Saudi television, it landed like a slap.
Abdulghani goes on the attack
On the “Nadina” programme, former Saudi national team star Hussein Abdulghani tore into the explanation, branding Inzaghi’s comments “strange and surprising.”
“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.”
Then the tone sharpened.
“Is Benzema 20 years old, or Koulibaly 21?” he asked sarcastically, using two of the league’s most high-profile names to underline his point about age and elite competition. For Abdulghani, the justification simply did not stand up.
“The coach says anything to justify excluding Al-Bulaihi, but I see that the handling of the player is not professional,” he added, questioning not just the decision but the manner in which it had been communicated.
A wider criticism of club behaviour
Abdulghani did not stop at Inzaghi. He widened the lens to take in Al-Hilal’s hierarchy and, by extension, club culture across the Saudi game.
“Al-Bulaihi gave a lot to Al-Hilal, and the management should have satisfied him and sold him in a normal way, instead of dealing with him in this strange manner,” he said, framing the situation as a failure to respect a player who has been central to the club’s recent success.
Then came the bluntest line of the night.
“Saudi clubs deal with the players they do not want in such an unprofessional way.”
With Al-Hilal opening their Roshn League campaign and Inzaghi still settling into one of the most scrutinised jobs in Asian football, the handling of Al-Bulaihi has already become a flashpoint. How the club responds to that accusation of “unprofessional” treatment may define more than just one defender’s future.
