Latest news with #Calzada
France 24
26 minutes ago
- Sport
- France 24
Inzaghi defends manner of exit from Inter to Saudi club
Inzaghi takes charge of his new club for the first time on Wednesday when they face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup in Miami. Al-Hilal's chief executive officer Esteve Calzada told the BBC on Wednesday that the move had been decided before Inter's 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain. "It might look like it's something that came quickly, but it's the result of hard work particularly from our chairman, who was always very clear he would be our number one option," said Calzada. "He was playing a massive match and asked (us) to keep things aside until after the final... it was decided but not signed before the final, just because out of respect he asked us to wait, which is certainly fair enough." The Champions League final was held on May 31 and Inzaghi was announced as the Al-Hilal coach four days later. Calzada's comments prompted Italian media reports speculating whether the coach's impending move had influenced Inter's players and their performance. At the pre-match press conference, Inzaghi was asked about those reports. "Today, as has often been the case during my four years at Inter, I heard and listened to everything," said the coach. "If this (criticism) was the price I had to pay for my four years at Inter, I am happy to pay it, but it is nothing compared to the good I have received from everyone. I am talking about Inter, the fans, the management, the players and Inter," he added. "I know I will miss it, I will miss everything, even this. Even the most unfair accusations that have been made over the past four years. "But I have been really happy, I have given my all and worked closely with the club and the management. In short, I think they too, for the good of Inter, were convinced that the right thing to do was for our paths to separate, with a lot of pain on everyone's part," he said. Inzaghi defended his choice of moving from a top European club to the emerging Saudi Pro League. "I accepted the challenge and stepped out of my comfort zone after several years at Inter. I want to change my way of thinking, my style of play, and try new things. There was no other team I wanted to coach. So I chose Al Hilal," he added.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Fresh Darwin Nunez hint dropped as club boss responds after Liverpool name price
Darwin Nunez continues to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia with one of the Pro League's clubs interested in him making clear they are ready to do business this summer Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada has said the club is targeting 'the biggest players' in the transfer window amid interest in Liverpool's Darwin Nunez – but he has warned that they need to see the desire in star names before agreeing to sign them. Liverpool are said to be willing to accept an offer in the region of £50m to sell Nunez this summer - just months after they rejected a more lucrative proposal for the striker from Saudi Arabia. Nunez, 25, is expected to leave Anfield after a disappointing campaign in front of goal for the newly minted Premier League champions. And there have already been discussions over a potential move away, according to reports elsewhere. But should Al Hilal pursue a deal for the Uruguayan striker in the coming weeks, Calzada has made it clear that they will not be just throwing away money for the sake of it. "We are targeting the biggest players,' Calzada, who is presently in the United States for the Club World Cup, told BBC Sport"We are very ambitious, but we need to see hunger from the player himself and the transaction needs to work out both ways. "The only thing we've been trying to remind players and agents is that yes, we are from Saudi, but we don't print notes here! "My role as CEO is to make sure we run the club efficiently, so that we can have the biggest budget possible to have big players, but not at any cost. "That's why sometimes we basically walk away from negotiations, because we still want players extremely keen on coming, and not only looking for the money." Calzada also responded to suggestions that his club were interested in a short-term loan deal for Cristiano Ronaldo from Al Nassr, so he could appear at Gianni Infantino's new and controversial competition. But Calzada rubbished the idea of the Portugal star joining from his club's biggest rivals. He added: "As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognise he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you. Even more when it's only for three to four weeks. "We've been trying to see if we can reinforce the team. But some players were with a mindset of 'holidays already', some players were sometimes just asking for too much money, and we're aware that our team is extremely competitive. "We'll go into the traditional transfer window after the tournament still with the biggest ambitions to see if we can reinforce the team even more."
The National
14-04-2025
- Business
- The National
'Time to go global' - Saudi Arabian football poised to make a mark on the world stage
Al Nassr sporting director and former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro believes Saudi Arabia's football evolution is not only here to stay but ready to lead a new era for the global game. Speaking at the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh – as part of a panel titled Developing the Market Value of Sports Club – alongside Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada, Hierro said the Saudi Pro League is not only attracting global stars, but commanding worldwide attention, helping to transform the SPL from a buyer's league into an exporter of talent to rival the world's best. 'This league is calling the world,' Hierro said. 'It's not just Saudi clubs going abroad to find players, now European scouts are coming here, looking for Saudi talent. That tells you something.' Hierro, who was one of the first major international players to join Qatar's league more than 20 years ago, said the evolution taking place in Saudi has been extraordinary. 'This project is just two years old. And yet look at the infrastructure, the global reach, the talent,' he said. 'There's already so much work behind it. It's only just beginning.' The former defender, who spent 14 years at Real Madrid and made 89 appearances for Spain, highlighted Al Nassr's new approach to recruitment as proof of their change in strategy. The club, which helped kick-start the Saudi football transformation by signing Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in December 2022, have focused more on signing younger talents this season, with an average age of 23.6 years. The strategy reflects a wider change in the SPL, where this season the average age of players signed was 24.9, down from 25.4 in 2023/24. 'We've signed five players under 25, including Brazilian international Bento, teenagers Angelo and Wesley, and Jhon Duran who is only 21,' Hierro said. 'We're not just buying, we're creating value. Saudi clubs can become exporters, too.' Calzada, CEO of Al Hilal and former chief commercial officer of City Football Group, echoed Hierro's sentiment, saying the SPL is perfectly placed to grow into a global football powerhouse. 'Al Hilal have been very successful domestically, but now it's time to go global,' Calzada said. 'If we want international fans and sponsors, we need to ensure maximum distribution of our product.' Broadcasting is the key area of growth, Calzada explained, with SPL matches now available in 200 countries. 'We've already monetised the key assets – shirt deals, LED boards – so now we must evolve. The focus is digital and social, reaching younger fans where they are.' Calzada said clubs like Al Hilal are already reaping the benefits of football's global pull. The club made international headlines with the league record signing of Neymar last summer, and while the Brazilian has moved on after an injury-disrupted 18 months, the Riyadh giants remain Saudi Arabia's most recognisable club, both locally and abroad. 'This is the most popular sport in the kingdom, and Al Hilal is the most popular team,' he added. 'If you want to reach the Saudi consumer, there is no better channel [than football].' With Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup and Al Hilal confirmed as the kingdom's sole representative at the expanded 32-team Fifa Club World Cup in the United States this summer, the spotlight on Saudi football is only intensifying. Al Hilal will open their tournament against Real Madrid in Miami before matches against Mexican side Pachuca and perennial Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg. The tournament is therefore a prime opportunity for Hilal to showcase both the quality of Saudi football and boost their own profile. 'The Club World Cup is an extraordinary opportunity for Al Hilal to showcase our brand on the global stage,' said Calzada. 'It's the first edition in this new format, and we'll be competing against some of the best clubs in the world in front of massive global audiences. It's a moment of pride for the club and for the league.' Calzada emphasised the importance of performing well in the tournament to reinforce the SPL's international ambitions. 'It's not just about being there, it's about showing that Saudi clubs can compete at the highest level. We want to prove we belong.' Facilities were also a recurring theme in the panel. 'For me, the development of youth players starts with three things,' said Hierro. 'Good facilities, quality coaching, and strong competition. But above all, facilities matter.' With 48 teams arriving in the kingdom for the 2034 World Cup, he insisted – and expects – that the training infrastructure must be world-class. 'Each nation will need their own base. We must show the world that we're ready, not just to host, but to lead.' Calzada agreed, pointing to the Kingdom Arena, Al Hilal's current temporary home, as an example of how infrastructure supports growth. 'It's the biggest indoor grass football stadium in the world. We don't own it, but tactically, it's ours and it's helping us build a fan base and create a world-class experience.' Held under the banner of 'Investing in the Future of Sport,' the Sports Investment Forum had over 3,000 attendees and featured leaders from global leagues, clubs, and agencies. The forum highlighted how Saudi Arabia's sports sector is now surging with private investment, global partnerships, and international acclaim. According to official figures, the number of registered sports organisations and private clubs in the kingdom has more than doubled in recent years, supported by a strategic plan to increase private sector contribution to 25 per cent of the sports economy. Deloitte Middle East Partner Robin Butteriss believes Saudi football's financial trajectory is only heading one way: up. 'The current SPL broadcast deal is worth around $80 million a year,' Butteriss said. 'By 2030, I expect that to at least double – perhaps even triple – as international distribution improves.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Trackdown: Do you recognize these Fort Worth aggravated robbery suspects?
The Brief Fort Worth police are looking for two aggravated robbery suspects who robbed and shot at a man after asking him for water. The male and female suspects were caught on video fleeing the victim's apartment. If you recognize them, call Det. Olson at 817-392-4377. FORT WORTH, Texas - On this week's Trackdown, Fort Worth police are looking for the couple who asked a man for help. When he opened his door to let them in, they pulled a gun on him, robbed him and shot at him. What we know The aggravated robbery happened recently in the 2300 block of Tudor Drive. "Two individuals described as a Hispanic female in her 20s and a light-skinned Black male knock at the door, asked for a glass of water, forced their way into the apartment, put a gun to this gentleman's head – right to his head, Shaun – and then demanded his money," said Officer Buddy Calzada with the Fort Worth Police Department. The video shows the struggle that ensued and then the suspects fleeing through a window. And as they go out the window, they turn around and shoot at the victim. He's forced to dodge the bullets. "Amazingly, you know you hear about it in Western movies how you can dance and dodge bullets? This dodging saved his life," Officer Calzada said. What we don't know Police need help identifying the two suspects who are known to hang out around the 1300 block of East Seminary near the vape shops and hotels. They're hoping someone from that general area recognizes them in the video. "You're going to know them. You're going to know that they possibly have a gun, and you can know that they've probably done some of these crimes before due to just going up asking somebody for water for some help and then taking advantage of them," Calzada said. What they're saying Officer Calzada said the thing that bothers him the most is that the couple used deadly force even after taking something from somebody. He's hoping to get them identified and get them behind bars before they do the same kind of thing again. What you can do Anyone who recognizes the man or woman in the video should call Det. Olson at 817-392-4377. Dig deeper You can watch Shaun Rabb's Trackdown series every Wednesday on FOX 4. Episodes are also posted weekly online and on FOX Local. With Tarin's arrest, FOX 4 viewers have helped police make 189 arrests. The Source FOX 4's Shaun Rabb gathered details for this story by talking to Fort Worth Police Officer Buddy Calzada.
