Football: Coach Simone Inzaghi leaves Inter and signs for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia
His departure from Inter was announced on Tuesday and Italian media reported a two-year contract worth 50 million euros.
By Le Parisien with AFP"The Italian genius is here. Welcome Simone Inzaghi," Al Hilal announced on social media. Rumors had been circulating for some time about the departure of the Inter Milan coach , who were beaten in the Champions League final last Saturday by Paris Saint-Germain in Saudi Arabia. It's now a done deal.
"I am Simone Inzaghi and today my new story with Al Hilal begins," said the 49-year-old Italian, who also coached Lazio but had never coached outside his country, in a video accompanying the club's announcement.
His departure from Inter was announced on Tuesday , and Italian media reported a two-year contract with Al Hilal worth €50 million. The club did not immediately confirm the deal on Thursday.
In four seasons as coach of the Milanese club, Simone Inzaghi and his players won one Italian championship, two Italian Cups and three Italian Super Cups.
But this year, Inter finished the season without a trophy. Crushed 5-0 in the Champions League final by PSG, the Milanese team also let the Serie A title slip away, falling just one point behind Napoli, after losing the Italian Super Cup final in January and being eliminated in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia in April.
"I have always followed Al Hilal with great sympathy because they have Sergej Milinkovic, a player I coached at Lazio, and I am happy to have him back," added Inzaghi.
In addition to the Serbian midfielder, Inzaghi could also be joined by Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, who announced his departure from Saudi club Al-Nassr at the end of May.
In the process, a source within the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund heavily involved in national football, announced to AFP that negotiations were underway with the Portuguese player to keep him in the Saudi Pro League and that "the main option was a transfer to Al Hilal with the opportunity to play in the Club World Cup" this summer in the United States (June 14 - July 13).
Le Parisien
