Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal announced that new Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim has postponed any contract negotiations and signings until he has completed studying the players currently at the club, Arabic sports daily Arriyadiyah has reported.
Sources at the club said the former Monaco coach will present the board with an extensively researched technical report highlighting the squad’s technical needs and the players — foreign and local — who can satisfy those criteria.
Jardim is set to arrive in Riyadh in 10 days’ time to officially assume his duties. Among his first tasks will be securing his new residence, visiting the club’s headquarters, and finalizing the first team’s preparations for the 2021-22 season.
On June 1, the 46-year-old was offered a one-year contract by the Riyadh club, with the option of an extension for a further 12 months. He had been out of football since leaving Monaco in December 2019.
After stints in charge of Braga, Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon, he was appointed to take over at Monaco in the summer of 2014, with the club a shadow of the one that had won the French league in 2000 and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League four years later.
In 2016-17, he led Monaco to the Ligue 1 championship as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League.
On his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Jardim is set to hold several meetings with Al-Hilal’s management as he wants to ensure all preparations are scheduled ahead of the players’ return to training on July 5.
