Speculation has been confirmed: Simone Inzaghi will not be staying in Italy after Inter Milan's recent crushing defeat to PSG in the Champions League final. Rumors had been swirling that the coach would leave Inter Milan to take over Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, and those whispers have now proven true.
Al-Hilal officially announced Inzaghi's arrival through a social media post on Wednesday (June 4), declaring, "The Italian genius has arrived. Welcome, Simone Inzaghi."
Inzaghi has signed a two-year contract with Al-Hilal, though the exact details of his salary remain unconfirmed. Previously, there was a rumor that he would earn €50 million for two years, but that was dismissed at the time.
However, Italian media reports suggest the new Al-Hilal coach could earn more than €20 million per season, with some estimates even approaching €30 million.
Inzaghi's Coaching Journey
Inzaghi retired from his two-decade-long playing career in 2008 and transitioned into coaching. He began his top-tier coaching career in 2016, taking charge of Lazio. During his five years there, he won one Italian Cup and two Italian Super Cups.
In 2021, Inzaghi took the helm at Inter Milan. With the club, he secured one Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and three Italian Super Cups. Under Inzaghi's leadership, Inter Milan reached the Champions League final twice in three seasons, but they stumbled on both occasions. They lost to Manchester City in 2023 and were recently overwhelmed by PSG in the most recent final.
Despite a strong showing for much of the last season, Inter Milan had the opportunity to win a treble but lost to city rivals AC Milan in the Italian Cup final. Although they led in Serie A for a period, they ultimately finished the season in second place.
The Champions League final defeat meant Inter Milan ended the season empty-handed, and this ultimately signaled Simone Inzaghi's departure. While it's stated that he left by mutual consent, it's widely seen as a dismissal, despite Inter Milan's previous claims of wanting to retain him just days prior.
Inzaghi's new venture will kick off with the Club World Cup, where Al-Hilal's first opponent will be Spanish giants Real Madrid. The match is scheduled for June 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
