Simone Inzaghi has unveiled his solution to cover for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's injury ahead of Al-Hilal's clash against Al-Ittihad in the Roshn League. The Serbian midfielder sustained a knock during international duty and will miss Saturday's fixture at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, forcing the Italian tactician to reshuffle his midfield for the eighth-round encounter.
Rather than turn to an experienced alternative, Inzaghi has opted to start young Frenchman Simon Bouabre in midfield. The 20-year-old's promotion represents a significant show of faith, given his minimal involvement this season. Bouabre has made just one competitive appearance—a brief substitute outing in the AFC Champions League Elite win over Al-Gharafa last September—and has been excluded from Al-Hilal's squad sheet for the past seven Roshn League matches. Since his arrival in January, the French prospect has registered only 12 appearances across all competitions, starting four times without contributing a goal or assist.
A Tactical Gamble with Youth
Inzaghi's decision reflects the manager's confidence in Bouabre's ability to function in attacking midfield roles, a position that demands both creativity and defensive awareness. With captain Salem Al-Dawsari also unavailable, the Al-Hilal boss faces personnel challenges in the middle of the pitch. The choice of Bouabre suggests Inzaghi values the player's technical profile over his limited match experience in the Saudi top flight.
This fixture carries significant weight in the domestic title race. Al-Hilal's Clasico against Al-Ittihad remains one of Saudi Arabia's most-watched derbies, and Inzaghi's team selection will be scrutinized closely. Bouabre's elevation from the fringes offers the midfielder a rare opportunity to prove his worth at the highest competitive level and justify the Italian manager's tactical philosophy in the Roshn League this season.
