English Premier League
Joao Cancelo left out of Al Hilal squad by Simone Inzaghi
Joao Cancelo has been omitted from Al Hilal’s squad for their Roshn Saudi League opener against Al-Faisaly after manager Simone Inzaghi decided the Portugal full-back is not physically ready to compete.
The decision has intensified uncertainty around Cancelo’s future at the Saudi club, with his position understood to be the subject of significant tension within Al Hilal. The club will face Al-Faisaly on Friday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh in their first league match of the new season.
According to sources cited by Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, Inzaghi ordered Cancelo’s exclusion because he does not believe the player has reached the required level of fitness. The manager is also reported to have no plans, at least for now, to involve Cancelo in Al Hilal’s competitive group.
Cancelo was compelled to return to training with Al Hilal only a week ago after the club failed to reach an agreement with Barcelona over a potential transfer. His unexpected return to Saudi football followed the end of a period of leave and means he is set to complete the final year of his existing contract unless a new move can be arranged.
The latest development has been described as controversial by Spanish newspaper Sport. Cancelo has trained with the squad for a week and, in the newspaper’s view, might have been expected to have achieved at least the minimum level of fitness required to be included among the substitutes or matchday squad.
However, the continued disagreement between the player and Inzaghi has again become visible. Several months ago, Inzaghi himself asked Al Hilal to explore the transfer market and look for a destination for Cancelo, who had moved outside the manager’s plans.
That situation reportedly applied not only to Cancelo’s chances of starting matches, but also to his prospects of remaining on the substitutes’ bench or being selected in matchday squads at all.
The current episode suggests the Portuguese international has still been unable to win back Inzaghi’s confidence. At the same time, the process of deciding his future has continued for considerably longer than had been expected.
Negotiations between Al Hilal and Barcelona have stalled in recent weeks over a possible permanent transfer. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick wants the full-back, but the two clubs have been unable to agree on the financial terms.
Al Hilal continue to demand €10m before allowing Cancelo to leave. Barcelona have sought a significant reduction in that fee and have also asked the Saudi club to consider alternative structures that could produce what they regard as a more reasonable solution.
For now, Cancelo remains an Al Hilal player, but his omission from the squad for the opening league fixture represents a further setback in his relationship with Inzaghi and leaves his next step unresolved.
