Al Hilal’s Milinkovic-Savic: Renewal Talks Heat Up as European Clubs Watch Closely
12 October 2025
Saudi media reports are spotlighting the future of Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, a key weapon for Al Hilal over the past two seasons.
His contract runs until the end of this season, and the club has not yet decided on renewal, while speculation grows as European clubs, notably in Italy, are linked with a free transfer this coming summer.
The Saudi daily Al-Yawm has indicated that Al Hilal is aiming to preserve one of its stars by renewing his contract in the near term.
Despite Italian interest, Milinkovic-Savic has not expressed a desire to leave and has shown a clear willingness to stay with Al Hilal longer.
Earlier, his agent said the player feels comfortable at the club and prioritizes the Saudi club and the renewal offer.
The same source notes that Milinkovic-Savic is very close to extending his stay, with the club determined to keep him because of his central role in the system built by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi.
Dual Role
The Serb has been a cornerstone since joining from Lazio in the summer of 2023, quickly establishing himself as one of the league's key midfielders thanks to a unique blend of physicality, vision, and goalscoring ability.
He has been central in the setup under former coach Jorge Jesus, operating as the advanced midfielder who links defense and attack and serves as the creative hub behind the forwards.
His precise passing and ability to read spaces have made him one of the league's top playmakers, contributing with goals from outside the area and intelligent runs inside the box.
This season, Milinkovic-Savic has shown his value in most of Hilal's key matches, contributing to goals and assists in the league and in the AFC Champions League, making him a constant source of victories.
Beyond his technical output, he brings leadership on the pitch, earning wide fan affection and being seen as a pillar for the club chasing domestic titles and another Asian crown.
Inzaghi's Blueprint
Inzaghi is widely regarded as the man who knows Milinkovic-Savic best, having coached him at Lazio and guiding him in over 200 matches before moving to Inter Milan.
Thus Milinkovic-Savic is a standout asset in Inzaghi's plans at Hilal, a player difficult to replace and highly compatible with the Italian's philosophy.
Inzaghi's approach blends tactical discipline with attacking flexibility, emphasizing control of tempo, varied build-up, solid defensive organization, and pressing in midfield.
He is known for exploiting players' potential by granting midfield freedom in attack while ensuring balanced defensive cover, often using a 3-5-2 that gives the team flexibility to shift between defense and attack, with full-backs offering attacking width, an approach well-suited to Hilal's current group such as Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, and Cancelo.
The philosophy also hinges on quick collective pressing after losing the ball to shrink spaces and regain possession, with particular focus on set pieces and defensive organization—a hallmark of his clubs in Italy.
Mentally, Inzaghi brings a calm, steady presence capable of managing the locker room, motivating players to deliver their best in big matches.
With his wealth of continental competition experience, Al Hilal aims for a new continental leap under Inzaghi, hoping to translate domestic dominance into bigger international success.
Punchline 1: Milinkovic-Savic's renewal saga moves so smoothly that even a sniper would miss the punchline—it's too precise.
Punchline 2: If patience paid wages, Milinkovic-Savic would be a billionaire by now.
