MIAMI:Simone Inzaghi said he gave his all to Inter Milan before taking over at Al-Hilal earlier this month after the Saudi club’s CEO told the BBC the move had been agreed before Inter’s 5-0 loss to Paris St. Germain in the Champions League final.
Inzaghi won a Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and three Italian Super Cups during his four years at Inter but could not deliver the Champions League title and left the club just days after their humiliating defeat by PSG in Munich.
“It might look like it’s something that came quickly, but it’s the result of hard work,” Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said.
“He was playing a massive match and asked (us) to keep things aside until after the final, it was decided but not signed before the final, just because out of respect he asked us to wait, which is certainly fair enough.”
The comments prompted Italian media to question whether the Inter squad knew about the move ahead of the final and if it had any impact on their performance.
Inzaghi, speaking ahead of Al-Hilal’s first game at the Club World Cup against Real Madrid on Wednesday, said there could be no questions about his commitment to Inter during his time there.
“Today I heard — or heard about — all sorts of things, as has often happened during the four years I was at Inter,” the Italian told a press conference.
“If this was the price to pay for my four years at Inter, I’ll gladly pay it. But it’s nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world — I mean the fans, the management, the players, everyone at Inter.
“I know I’ll miss it — I’ll miss everything, even this — even the most unfair accusations that were made over these four years.
“But I was truly happy. I gave my all.”
Inter President Beppe Barotta did not want to be drawn into the controversy but said no individual was bigger than his club.
“I don’t chase after rumors, denials, or other people’s behavior — everyone knows what they’ve done,” he said before Inter’s Club World Cup game against Monterrey on Tuesday.
“A cycle has ended and we thank Simone Inzaghi for all he’s given us, but now there’s a new cycle to open and focus on. Inter’s story moves forward and doesn’t depend on individuals. ”
Inzaghi downplays Al-Hilal agreement timeline, says he gave everything to Inter
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Inzaghi downplays Al-Hilal agreement timeline, says he gave everything to Inter
- “It might look like it’s something that came quickly, but it’s the result of hard work,” Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said
Football’s return to Syrian pitches brings fanfare — and friction
RIYADH: Just 10 days after the first anniversary of Syria’s Liberation Day, and one week after the historic performance of the country’s football team at the 2025 Arab Cup — where they reached the quarterfinals — domestic football returned as the Syrian Premier League kicked off its new season.
While league football has continued intermittently since a one-year suspension in 2011, this season represents a notable shift.
For the first time since 2017, the competition features 16 teams playing a full round-robin format — a return to structural normality after years of disrupted campaigns, withdrawals and operational challenges caused by conflict and deteriorating infrastructure.
Foreign players have also returned in significant numbers. A total of 25 overseas players are registered across the 16 clubs in what is now known as the “Prime TV” Syrian Premier League, following the broadcaster’s acquisition of domestic broadcasting rights for the season.
Yet despite the sense of renewal, the league’s reset has been far from smooth. Average attendances remain well below pre-war levels, while the season itself was delayed multiple times before eventually beginning in mid-December — a schedule that is now expected to extend deep into the summer months.
Concerns over facilities and fan safety have already sparked internal tension. The anticipated Matchday Two fixture between Tishreen and Hottin — also known as the Latakia Derby — was postponed by the Syrian Football Association until further notice. No official explanation was provided, but stadium readiness and crowd safety has been at the core of football discussion in Syria.
Supporters have also voiced their frustration over the newly announced ticket prices. Entry fees increased from 5,000 Syrian pounds ($0.45) to 15,000 SYP, a threefold rise announced by the SFA and widely cited as a factor behind subdued crowds.
Infrastructure remains a pressing issue. Historic venues such as Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Stadium in the city of Homs are still not cleared to host games due to pitch conditions and safety requirements, reinforcing the sense of uneven progress — advances made, but frequently offset by new obstacles.
Operational shortcomings were evident as early as the first game of the season. In the opening fixture between Al-Shorta and Hottin, a formal warning was issued to the former by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee due to a breach in organizational arrangements for the match, including the failure to provide ball boys, which led to a five-minute delay to kick-off.
Political sensitivities have not been easy to navigate either. Al-Karamah were fined 1,500,000 SYP after fans directed verbal abuse at Al-Wahda player Milad Hamad, due to previous political posts made on his Facebook account.
Five days later, Al-Wahda announced Hamad’s suspension from all sporting activities pending review by the relevant committee at the SFA. “This decision comes in solidarity with all our beloved Syrian fans and as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the unity of our people and our land, and to the fact that the blood of our martyrs in the Syrian Revolution has not been shed in vain,” the club said in a statement posted via their official Facebook page.
Rebuilding a sustainable football system in Syria has proven complex. The league’s return has brought moments of excitement alongside renewed tension — a reminder that restoring domestic football is not simply about restarting competition, but about addressing the structures that support it. The Syrian Football Association was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
