Exclusive sources have revealed to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi important behind-the-scenes details regarding the future of Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez with Saudi club Al-Hilal, following direct intervention from the team's manager, Italian Simone Inzaghi. These developments come at a sensitive time in the season, with much speculation surrounding the player's potential departure or exclusion from the domestic squad. However, the past few hours have brought good news for Al-Hilal fans.

According to informed sources, Simone Inzaghi sent a clear and direct message to Darwin Núñez, confirming his complete commitment to retaining his services and his desire for him to remain a key player in the team for the foreseeable future. The Italian coach successfully convinced the player to stay and not consider leaving, emphasizing the importance of his presence in the squad to compete for all available titles this season. This reflects the great confidence the coaching staff has in the Uruguayan striker's abilities.

This crucial tactical decision comes after Darwin Nunez's heroic performance in Al Hilal's last match, where he led the team to a valuable 2-1 victory over Al Wahda. The match, part of the previous round of the AFC Champions League, saw Nunez demonstrate his attacking prowess and ability to decide big games, reinforcing Inzaghi's conviction that he should be relied upon in upcoming matches.

Regarding preparations for domestic matches, Al-Hilal is intensifying its training ahead of its clash with arch-rival Al-Ittihad in a highly anticipated football derby as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. The Kingdom Arena is scheduled to host this fiery encounter, which represents a crucial turning point in the title race.

This move by Inzaghi is of paramount strategic importance in the context of the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, where Al-Hilal seeks to maintain its technical stability and bolster its ranks with top international players. Retaining a player of Núñez's caliber not only represents a technical boost on the field but also sends a strong message to rivals about Al-Hilal's seriousness in dominating domestic and continental championships, especially given the significant development of Saudi football and its attraction of some of the world's best players, making every match a challenge that demands peak readiness from all players.

All eyes in Saudi football will be on the stadium next Saturday evening for the highly anticipated match between the two giants of Saudi football, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. Amidst preparations for this fiery derby, uncertainty still surrounds the availability of one of Al-Hilal's key players, French left-back Theo Hernandez.

The Al-Hilal coaching staff, led by veteran Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, has yet to make a final decision regarding Hernandez's participation in the highly anticipated match. This uncertainty stems from the player's absence from the team's previous game against Al-Wahda due to injury, which has raised concerns among Al-Hilal fans given the significant technical value he brings to the starting lineup.

The medical staff at Al-Hilal are working tirelessly, in constant coordination with the coaching staff, to expedite the French star's recovery. The player is scheduled to undergo thorough and intensive medical and physical tests in the coming hours and days; the results of these tests will be crucial in determining his availability for the derby or whether he needs to be rested to avoid aggravating his injury.

Theo Hernandez, 28, has been a key player in Inzaghi's tactics this season, transcending traditional defensive duties to become an indispensable attacking force. His impact is evident in his 28 appearances for Al-Hilal this season, where he has scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists – an impressive tally for a left-back, reflecting his pivotal role in building attacks and creating numerical advantages.

In terms of the league standings, Al-Hilal enters the match sitting atop the Roshan League table with 53 points, aiming to widen the gap and take another step closer to the title. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad is experiencing mixed fortunes, currently in sixth place with 37 points, and hopes to use this match to regain its footing and appease its fans with a significant morale-boosting victory against the league leaders.

Matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad always acquire exceptional importance that goes beyond points calculations. They represent a historical legacy and a fierce competition known as the “Saudi Clasico,” which enjoys wide following at the Arab and international levels, especially in light of the tremendous development witnessed by the Saudi League and its attraction of the world’s most prominent stars and great coaches such as Inzaghi.

Saad Al-Shehri, the manager of Al-Ettifaq, confirmed his team's complete readiness for the upcoming match against Al-Fateh during a press conference held to discuss the team's preparations for this important game in the Saudi Professional League. Al-Shehri emphasized that the match will not be easy, given the high level of skill possessed by their opponents.

Speaking about their opponents, Al-Shehri said, "Al-Fateh possesses excellent individual and attacking options, but we at Al-Ettifaq are accustomed to a strong and positive response after any setback, and we hope to continue our run of positive results." These statements come as Al-Ettifaq seeks to strengthen its position in the league standings, especially given the intense competition in the Saudi league this season and the improved performance of all clubs.

Tactical flexibility between 4-3-3 and 5-3-2

Regarding the ongoing technical debate about the team's playing style, specifically the lack of sustained agreement on the 4-3-3 formation despite the availability of the necessary players, Al-Shehri explained his tactical vision, which is based on realism and results. In response to a question from Al-Midan, he added, "The team adapted excellently to the 5-3-2 system, and we reached a good level of performance with this tactical setup. The team is flexible and can play in different styles depending on the flow of the match and the strength of the opponent.".

This approach reflects the modern training philosophy that relies on adapting plans based on available data, as the current method of play has proven effective in securing defensive areas while maintaining offensive threat, which is what the team needs to ensure technical stability.

Overcoming the effects of the Al-Hilal match and Wijnaldum's future

Regarding the previous match, the Al-Ettifaq coach continued, "We were very keen to achieve a good result against Al-Hilal, but the most important thing now is the present, and our complete focus is on the Al-Fateh match." Quickly overcoming losses against top teams is considered an indicator of the team's mental maturity, something the coaching staff is focusing on to ensure morale remains unaffected.

Al-Shehri pointed out in his statements the winning mentality of the team: “We always strive to win all the points of the match, but if that is not achieved on some occasions, I do not think that affects the team’s long journey in the league much.”.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Saad Al-Shehri put an end to the speculation surrounding the future of Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum, the team's midfield maestro, especially with the contract negotiations nearing their final stages. He concluded his remarks regarding Wijnaldum's contract renewal by stating clearly, "There is nothing new to report on this matter," leaving the door open for further speculation about the future of the player, who is considered a cornerstone of the Al-Sharjah team's lineup.