Al-Hilal CEO: "We Can Pitch to Any Player — But We Don’t Print Money"
As Al-Hilal prepare to take on Real Madrid in their Club World Cup opener, club CEO Esteve Calzada is making headlines of his own — declaring that the Saudi giants are now in a position to approach any player in world football, but remain grounded when it comes to spending.
🌎 From Miami to Madrid — Big Matches, Bigger Ambitions
Speaking from Miami, where Al-Hilal meet Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club Real Madrid on Wednesday (20:00 BST), Calzada addressed recent transfer links to Bruno Fernandes, Darwin Núñez, and Victor Osimhen.
“The names we are linked with demonstrate the ambition of the club,”
he said.
“We believe we’re in a position to pitch to any players nowadays.”
🚫 Bruno Fernandes? “Fits the Profile, But…”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes recently revealed he turned down a massive offer from Al-Hilal, saying he still wanted to compete "at the highest level."
Calzada responded diplomatically:
“I cannot confirm nor deny that we've been interested in him.
But yes, he fits the profile of the player we believe would thrive at Al-Hilal — just like many others.”
🛑 Big Stars, But Not at Any Price
Al-Hilal were also reportedly eyeing:
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Darwin Núñez (Liverpool)
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Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
While Calzada didn’t confirm these names directly, his message was clear:
“We’re targeting the biggest players — but the player must be hungry to join. We don’t just throw money at everyone.”
“Yes, we’re from Saudi, but we don’t print money here!”
He added that the club only moves forward with signings when:
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There’s mutual interest
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The player is passionate about the project
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The numbers make sense
⚽ Simone Inzaghi Appointed, But No Major Signings Yet
Despite appointing Simone Inzaghi as head coach, Al-Hilal chose not to make any headline-grabbing signings before the Club World Cup — showing restraint as they continue building long-term.
“We’re running the club efficiently. That’s my job as CEO,”
Calzada concluded.
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