In important statements that sparked interest among the Saudi sports community, Simone Inzaghi, the technical director of Al-Hilal Club, revealed the reasons behind his difficult technical decision to exclude Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from the team’s local list, while registering Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo in his place to participate in the Saudi Roshan League competitions.
During the pre-match press conference ahead of the Al-Ettifaq game in the 22nd round of the league, Inzaghi described the decision as “very difficult,” explaining that selections are always based on the team’s technical needs. He said, “I, as the coach, choose the squad according to the team’s needs… and we believed that Marcos Leonardo was younger. Ultimately, Núñez and Leonardo will help the team in the Asian Champions League.” He concluded by emphasizing the difficulty of the situation: “The decision to register Núñez only for the Asian Champions League was difficult.”.
General context: Foreign player regulations and the strategic challenge
This decision comes amidst the challenges posed by the regulations governing the registration of foreign players in both the Saudi Professional League and the AFC Champions League, which force the technical staff of major clubs to make careful strategic choices. With a constellation of international stars, striking a balance between the domestic and continental rosters becomes crucial, often requiring the sacrifice of a big name in one competition to maximize the benefit in the other.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
Domestically, this decision places great trust in young Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo to lead Al-Hilal's attack in the fiercely contested Roshan League title race. Leonardo's signing comes after he demonstrated strong commitment to the club by rejecting offers to leave during the winter transfer window, specifically from Spanish side Atlético Madrid. Leonardo, who joined from Benfica, has made 24 appearances this season, scoring 14 goals and providing one assist.
On the continental level, Al-Hilal's decision to dedicate Darwin Núñez, the high-profile signing from Liverpool, exclusively to the AFC Champions League sends a clear message of their complete focus on reclaiming the continent's most prestigious title. Núñez, who has made 23 appearances, scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists, will be a key attacking force for the team in their Asian campaigns, reflecting the club's ambitious regional aspirations.
Al-Hilal, the leader of the Roshan League standings with 50 points, is preparing to face Al-Ettifaq, who are in sixth place with 35 points, in a match through which they seek to strengthen their lead and move forward towards achieving the league title.
