Al Hilal’s star names mask a squad still short of balance

On paper, Al Hilal appear to have almost everything required to compete for major honours: internationally recognised players, highly experienced stars and a squad capable of changing the course of any match. Yet the Saudi club’s apparent strength does not tell the full story ahead of the new season.

The central issue is not simply how many elite names Al Hilal have assembled, but whether their roles fit together and whether every position is adequately covered. A team can possess considerable individual quality and still have weaknesses if its structure lacks balance.

That tension is already evident in the squad belonging to “The Leader”. Al Hilal have enough prominent players for some observers to describe them as a “Galacticos” team. However, the squad also contains clear gaps in certain positions, while other unresolved issues have developed into genuine problems.

The club’s transfer plans are therefore about more than signing another headline player. They involve reshaping a group that currently requires practical solutions, including decisions over existing contracts and the recruitment of suitable alternatives.

Simone Inzaghi’s demands are one part of that process. The manager’s requirements must be considered alongside the board’s desire to redesign the squad, with both sides facing the difficulty of finding an appropriate balance between ambition and necessity.

There is also the challenge of moving on some players. Certain contracts have proved difficult to market, leaving Al Hilal with less flexibility as they attempt to adjust the composition of the squad. Until those situations are resolved, the club’s room to make further changes remains tied to decisions involving players already on its books.

That makes the transfer window a more complicated exercise than simply adding another star to an already glamorous group. Al Hilal need to identify where the squad is short, determine which roles must be strengthened and settle the cases that have become obstacles to a broader rebuild.

The club’s image may suggest that the main task is assembling more individual talent. In reality, the priority is to make the existing pieces work together more effectively. Names and experience can provide a strong foundation, but they do not automatically guarantee that a team is complete.

Al Hilal consequently enter the new-season market with a squad that looks impressive at first inspection but remains unfinished in important areas. The “Galacticos” label captures the quality of some of their players, yet it does not remove the need for reinforcement or careful restructuring.

For Inzaghi and the administration, the challenge is to convert a collection of major names into a more coherent group. Until the gaps are addressed and the unresolved contracts are managed, Al Hilal’s star-studded appearance will continue to conceal a squad that needs support as much as it needs new arrivals.