Al Hilal’s Core on the Line: Four Foreign Stars Weigh Renewal Ahead of a Trophy-Chasing Season
6 October 2025
Saudi media has outlined Al Hilal’s renewal stance for four foreign stars as coach Simone Inzaghi signals a determination to keep the core intact for a demanding season.
The quartet under consideration includes Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves, and Serbian maestro Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
According to the Saudi daily Today, decisions on renewing Bounou and Koulibaly rest with the club as it negotiates terms with the Moroccan shot-stopper and the Senegalese defender.
For Milinkovic-Savic and Neves, the issue reportedly depends on the recruitment plan and the budget allocated by the club for the window.
Inzaghi is keen to retain the core players as the team faces important domestic and continental duties this season, hoping to sustain momentum across multiple competitions.
Importance and Impact
Milinkovic-Savic, one of Al Hilal’s best additions since joining from Lazio in 2023, blends physical strength with tactical intelligence, anchoring the midfield and contributing in attack and defense alike.
His presence allows control in the middle, with accurate passing in both short and long ranges and a strong aerial game, while also helping build play from the back and providing leadership on the pitch.
Since arriving, Savic has appeared in over 102 matches, scoring 30 goals and laying on 26 assists, underscoring his value in both offensive and defensive phases and cementing his status as a key pillar of the side.
Connecting Link
Ruben Neves, equally pivotal, sits as a vital link between defense and attack, demonstrating positional flexibility enough to slot into multiple roles, as evidenced by his elevated role as a box-to-box operator even in early world-club competitions.
Neves joined from Wolverhampton in 2023 and has become a core component of the midfield, orchestrating play, delivering long, precise passes, recovering balls, and dictating tempo, especially in matches where ball retention and midfield dominance matter most.
His presence provides tactical balance across the team, enabling faster transitions from defense to attack through wide play or smart through balls. In numbers, Neves has played 97 matches, scoring 10 goals and providing 24 assists.
Golden Glove
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been a turning point for the goalkeeping department, instrumental in clinching cups and contributing to deep runs in competitions.
His reflex saves at Club World Cup moments and his penalties in cup finals have become part of his legend at the club. Since arriving, Bounou has played 99 matches, conceding 94 goals, and keeping 38 clean sheets, a figure that speaks to his resilience and experience.
Keeping him remains central to the club’s defensive identity and their ongoing hunt for titles, backed by his vast European experience.
Senegalese Rock
Kalidou Koulibaly, the rock at the heart of defense, joined the club in 2023 after notable spells with Napoli and Chelsea, and is lauded for his physicality and leadership in aerial battles and on the ground.
Since joining, Koulibaly has appeared in 100 matches, scoring five goals and assisting three more, with a memorable strike against Manchester City in the Club World Cup knockout stage standing out as a career highlight.
With his presence, Al Hilal gains a reliable defensive cornerstone whose experience and leadership are invaluable as the club targets multiple trophies this season.
Punchline 1: If these renewals land, Al Hilal might need a bigger trophy cabinet—one that matches the energy of the players and, frankly, my inbox with contract offers.
Punchline 2: If not, don’t worry—the transfer window will keep us on the edge of our seats longer than a goalkeeper waiting for a penalty shootout, and that’s saying something.
