Latest news with #Riyadh-based
Leaders
a day ago
- Sport
- Leaders
Preview: Al-Hilal Target Vital Win Over Salzburg in Club World Cup
Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal will be seeking to build on their strong draw against Real Madrid when they face Red Bull Salzburg on Sunday in a pivotal Group H second round Club World Cup showdown, as the Blue Waves aim for a victory that will significantly boost their chances of advancing to the next stage. New Leadership, Strong Performances The Riyadh-based team entered this tournament with a new manager after they appointed Simone Inzaghi following his recent departure from Italian giants Inter Milan after a a tough 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League final. The Saudi Pro League side earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Los Blancos. Ruben Neves successfully converted a penalty, canceling out Gonzalo Garcia's early opener. However, Al-Hilal enjoyed some good fortune when Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty. The draw means Al-Hilal avoided defeat in their last six matches overall, with their previous loss was a 3-1 setback against Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League semi-finals. Furthermore, they have consistently found the net in their last 15 competitive outings. This impressive scoring run includes ten Saudi Pro League games, ultimately allowing them finish that campaign as the league's highest scorers with 95 goals. Inzaghi expects his team to display this attacking firepower, as the 49-year-old seeks another win against Salzburg, boasting a strong record. He has won three of his previous four encounters against the Austrian side during his coaching career. Salzburg's Strong Position and Offensive Threat Meanwhile, Salzburg, led by Thomas Letsch, clinched second place in the Austrian Bundesliga after his December appointment as a replacement for Pep Lijnders. they started their tournament well, defeating Mexico's Pachuca 2-1, with Oscar Gloukh and Karim Onisiwo provided the decisive goals, to climb to the top of the group ahead of this match. Consequently, Salzburg now sit two points ahead of both Real Madrid and Al-Hilal. They understand that a win on Sunday will secure them a spot in the tournament's last-16, making this game a crucial match ahead of their challenging final group game against Los Blancos. However, despite boasting an exciting, youthful attacking approach, they may struggle to contain Al-Hilal's potent attack since they have recorded only one clean sheet in their previous nine games. Predicted Lineups Inzaghi will likely deploy the same squad that drew with Real Madrid, including stars like Bounou, Koulibaly, and Neves to dominate this Al-Hilal vs Salzburg Club World Cup clash. Salzburg rely on young attackers like Gloukh and Onisiwo to challenge Al-Hilal's defense. However, Al-Hilal's experience and form give them an advantage. Expect a tight match, with Al-Hilal edging a narrow win. Possible Starting XI: RB Salzburg: Zawieschitzky; Lainer, Gadou, Ramussen, Kratzig; Bidstrup, Diabate; Dorgeles, Gloukh; Onisiwo, Vertessen. Al-Hilal: Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Neves, N. Al-Dawsari; Malcolm, Milinkovic-Savic, S. Al-Dawsari; Leonardo. Watch this thrilling matchup as Al-Hilal seek to confirm their place in the knockout stage, promising an engaging clash of style and strategy. Short link : Post Views: 1
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Ronnie O'Sullivan's snooker plans become clearer after reuniting with girlfriend Laila Rouass
Ronnie O'Sullivan's snooker plans become clearer after reuniting with girlfriend Laila Rouass Ronnie O'Sullivan plans for the new snooker season have emerged following the news that the seven-time world champion has reconciled with long-term partner Laila Rouass Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have got back together (Image: Getty ) Ronnie O'Sullivan's manager has revealed the snooker icon's plans for the new season following a tumultuous 2024/25 campaign both on and off the table. The Rocket's frustrations peaked during a round of Championship League action in January when he snapped his cue in anger and subsequently withdrew from the Masters at Alexandra Palace and host of other tournaments. Equipped with a new cue, he made a much-anticipated comeback at the World Championship in April, reaching the semi-finals despite ongoing equipment issues. After losing to eventual champion Zhao Xintong, O'Sullivan announced his plans to relocate to the Middle East, where he has a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia in his name. In personal news, the Rocket is reportedly back together with actress Laila Rouass, following their split nine months ago. The pair are rumoured to be planning for a new life in Dubai, a two-hour flight away from his Riyadh-based academy. Jason Francis, O'Sullivan's long-standing manager, revealed that the 49-year-old has been thriving in his new environment and anticipates his participation in the Shanghai Masters, a prestigious invitational event commencing on July 28. "Ronnie's moved out to the Middle East for a while. You'll probably see him first in Shanghai. He's had a little break from the UK," Francis told the Express. Article continues below O'Sullivan is enjoying life in the Middle East (Image: Getty ) "You're talking about someone who can't go to the shop without being asked for a selfie, a photo. Where he is, he's finding a life a little bit quieter at the moment. "Ronnie's Ronnie. He'll decide when he wants to play and everyone knows he can come from nowhere to win a major tournament. You won't see Ronnie play a full schedule [this season] but I think you'll see him try and properly prepare for the tournaments he plays in. "He'll still be the sport's most commercial player in the short-term. Whether Zhao Xintong or [Judd] Trump can pick up that mantle now as we transition... Ronnie will be 50 in December, people have to remember that. They still expect him to turn up and win everything." O'Sullivan will pick and choose his tournaments this season (Image: Getty ) While still struggling with his game, making the last four at the Crucible was an impressive feat after so long out. On O'Sullivan's performance at the World Championship, Francis added: "Absolutely incredible. He didn't even have a cue a few weeks before! Article continues below "But that's Ronnie for you. He had one bad session [losing all eight frames in the second session]. I'm not saying he could have beaten Xintong - there was a feeling his name was on the trophy - but apart from one bad session, he was still toe to toe with him. "I think if he had beaten Xintong, him and Mark Williams would have been an incredible final. But it's great for snooker to have a Chinese world champion and it's for World Snooker to exploit that over there." The Shanghai Masters will see the top 16 players in the world rankings joined by the next four highest-ranked Chinese players. The tournament boasts a prize fund of £825,000, with the winner banking £210,000.
New Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Excessive financial demands scuppered pre-Club World Cup signings: Al-Hilal CEO
RIYADH: Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said they were confident in their Club World Cup squad's strength despite failing to secure any big names in the tournament's build-up, adding that talks with several targets collapsed due to excessive financial demands. The Riyadh-based club, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, parted ways with marquee signing Neymar earlier this year, but still boasts prominent players including Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, unlike Real Madrid who bolstered their squad with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City, who added Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, Al-Hilal made no major European acquisitions during the tournament's designated transfer window. The club's most notable addition ahead of Wednesday's opening match against Real Madrid in Miami was Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, appointed earlier this month. "This is the first time we've faced this transfer window... It's been difficult for us to find our bearings, including finding the right coach (Inzaghi) who could take charge of the team for the tournament," Calzada told Spanish daily Marca in an interview published yesterday. "We operate with a budget that we have to meet, and it's true that sometimes some players or agents don't understand that... There's been a lot of activity, but in the end we haven't made any deals." Asked about the challenges they faced in the mini transfer window, given the club's reputation for big spending, the CEO said players were demanding too much money. "Firstly, because we have a lot of confidence in our team, and secondly, because the circumstances haven't been right, including the fact that some people have gone crazy with the fees they're asking for; they think we can reach any figure," he added. "Truly, what a player can earn in Saudi Arabia will always be much more than what they can earn in Europe. But clearly, we don't have unlimited resources, nor do we print money. "In fact, we've missed out on opportunities to sign players precisely because they believed money was inexhaustible, and we have to manage the club sustainably and on reasonable terms."
The Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Soccer-Excessive financial demands scuppered pre-Club World Cup signings, says Al-Hilal CEO
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Hilal v Al Qadsiah - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 26, 2025 Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo (Reuters) -Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said they were confident in their Club World Cup squad's strength despite failing to secure any big names in the tournament's build-up, adding that talks with several targets collapsed due to excessive financial demands. The Riyadh-based club, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, parted ways with marquee signing Neymar earlier this year, but still boasts prominent players including Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, unlike Real Madrid who bolstered their squad with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City, who added Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, Al-Hilal made no major European acquisitions during the tournament's designated transfer window. The club's most notable addition ahead of Wednesday's opening match against Real Madrid in Miami was Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, appointed earlier this month. "This is the first time we've faced this transfer window... It's been difficult for us to find our bearings, including finding the right coach (Inzaghi) who could take charge of the team for the tournament," Calzada told Spanish daily Marca in an interview published on Friday. "We operate with a budget that we have to meet, and it's true that sometimes some players or agents don't understand that... There's been a lot of activity, but in the end we haven't made any deals." Asked about the challenges they faced in the mini transfer window, given the club's reputation for big spending, the CEO said players were demanding too much money. "Firstly, because we have a lot of confidence in our team, and secondly, because the circumstances haven't been right, including the fact that some people have gone crazy with the fees they're asking for; they think we can reach any figure," he added. "Truly, what a player can earn in Saudi Arabia will always be much more than what they can earn in Europe. But clearly, we don't have unlimited resources, nor do we print money. "In fact, we've missed out on opportunities to sign players precisely because they believed money was inexhaustible, and we have to manage the club sustainably and on reasonable terms." After their match against Real Madrid, Al-Hilal will face Austria's RB Salzburg and Mexico's Pachuca in Group H. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in BengaluruEditing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Excessive financial demands scuppered pre-Club World Cup signings, says Al-Hilal CEO
Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said they were confident in their Club World Cup squad's strength despite failing to secure any big names in the tournament's build-up, adding that talks with several targets collapsed due to excessive financial demands. The Riyadh-based club, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, parted ways with marquee signing Neymar earlier this year, but still boasts prominent players including Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, unlike Real Madrid who bolstered their squad with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City, who added Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, Al-Hilal made no major European acquisitions during the tournament's designated transfer window. The club's most notable addition ahead of Wednesday's opening match against Real Madrid in Miami was Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, appointed earlier this month. "This is the first time we've faced this transfer window... It's been difficult for us to find our bearings, including finding the right coach (Inzaghi) who could take charge of the team for the tournament," Calzada told Spanish daily Marca in an interview published on Friday. "We operate with a budget that we have to meet, and it's true that sometimes some players or agents don't understand that... There's been a lot of activity, but in the end we haven't made any deals." Asked about the challenges they faced in the mini transfer window, given the club's reputation for big spending, the CEO said players were demanding too much money. "Firstly, because we have a lot of confidence in our team, and secondly, because the circumstances haven't been right, including the fact that some people have gone crazy with the fees they're asking for; they think we can reach any figure," he added. "Truly, what a player can earn in Saudi Arabia will always be much more than what they can earn in Europe. But clearly, we don't have unlimited resources, nor do we print money. "In fact, we've missed out on opportunities to sign players precisely because they believed money was inexhaustible, and we have to manage the club sustainably and on reasonable terms." After their match against Real Madrid, Al-Hilal will face Austria's RB Salzburg and Mexico's Pachuca in Group H. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
