Mohammed Al-Deayea calls Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal decisions into question

Mohammed Al-Deayea has criticised Simone Inzaghi’s choices since the Italian became Al-Hilal manager, saying he remains unconvinced that the former Inter Milan boss can lead the Saudi club in the way required.

The Al-Hilal and Saudi Arabia legend questioned Inzaghi’s approach to team selection and squad management, despite the club’s strong start in terms of results.

Speaking on the television programme Dourina Ghair, Al-Deayea said: “All of Inzaghi’s choices have been wrong since he took over the technical responsibility at Al-Hilal. I do not know how he chooses or manages things.”

His comments focused on decisions made both in selecting the starting line-up and in identifying the areas where the squad needed strengthening. Al-Deayea said there had been clear weaknesses in Al-Hilal’s defence and argued that those problems should have been addressed before attention was turned to improving the attack.

The former goalkeeper said the club should have prioritised fixing its defensive shortcomings rather than concentrating on signing additional attacking players.

Al-Deayea also discussed Karim Benzema, suggesting that the way the French striker’s situation had been handled was another decision that raised questions over Inzaghi’s management of the squad. Benzema’s position has become one of the most controversial issues surrounding Al-Hilal since his arrival, according to Al-Deayea.

The criticism was not limited to the former Real Madrid forward. Al-Deayea also referred to the case of French goalkeeper Patouillet, who left Al-Hilal after being one of the players originally requested by Inzaghi.

For Al-Deayea, Patouillet’s departure provided further evidence that there was a lack of clarity in the club’s recruitment decisions and the management of its squad.

He ended his assessment with a direct verdict on the manager, saying: “I am not convinced by his presence.”

The remarks place Inzaghi under renewed pressure, even though Al-Hilal have made a positive start on the pitch. They also raise wider questions about whether the Italian’s tactical and recruitment decisions have matched the club’s needs since he took charge.

Al-Hilal, known as “Al-Za’eem”, appointed Inzaghi with expectations that he would provide strong leadership and guide the team at the highest level. However, Al-Deayea’s intervention suggests that results alone have not removed doubts over the manager’s methods.

His comments have reopened the debate around the balance of the squad, the handling of high-profile players and the thinking behind the club’s transfer decisions. In particular, the contrasting situations involving Benzema and Patouillet have become central to the discussion about Inzaghi’s authority and judgement.

Al-Deayea’s criticism was delivered publicly through Dourina Ghair, ensuring that his concerns reached a wide audience and adding another layer of scrutiny to Inzaghi’s tenure. For now, the manager retains the benefit of Al-Hilal’s strong results, but the former Saudi Arabia international’s assessment has increased the attention on every decision made by the Italian.