Inzaghi wastes no time: Martinelli starts immediately, Al-Hilal gamble on a brand-new attacking trident

When the contract from Arsenal hadn't even been printed on the official jersey yet, Simone Inzaghi threw Gabriel Martinelli into the starting lineup against Neom. No familiarization start, no trial half. After just a single substitute appearance in the 2-0 win over Al-Shabab, the Brazilian forward was given full trust in Round 6 of the Roshn Saudi Pro League. For me, this is not just a personnel decision. This is a tactical declaration, a face-up poker move from the Italian coach. The context of this match is not as simple as the standings suggest. Al-Hilal are on a 5-match winning streak, 15 perfect points, top of the table as defending champions. But looking closely at the squad, I see a team being rebuilt from the ruins of last season. A host of new faces: Martinelli from Arsenal, Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, Crysencio Summerville from West Ham. All three are players in their prime, not aging stars looking for a final payday. This completely contradicts the image many still attach to the Saudi Pro League. Inzaghi, who built his brand with a 3-5-2 at Inter Milan, is now operating a completely different 4-3-3 system. From the way the lineup is distributed in the registration list – four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards – it's clear this is a deliberate departure from his old philosophy. The question is: why? Is it because Al-Hilal's personnel don't fit a three-center-back system? Or is this a calculated evolution from a 48-year-old strategist who understands that conquering Asia requires something different from what he did in Europe? Look at the attacking trident Inzaghi is deploying: Martinelli on the left wing – his preferred position at Arsenal, Watkins through the middle – a modern number 9 with intelligent movement, and Summerville on the right – a winger blessed with pace and technique. On paper, this is a trio that would worry any defense in the Saudi Pro League. But football isn't played on paper. The key lies in the midfield. The trio of Neves – Milinkovic-Savic – Kanno forms a perfect base to shield an attack that lacks cohesion. Neves, a deep-lying playmaker, can dictate the tempo with precise long-range passes. Milinkovic-Savic, a box-to-box machine, has the ideal physique for duels and forward support. Kanno, a genuine destroyer, cleans up in front of the defense. This combination not only provides balance but also acts as a shield for the back four – the only area where I see Al-Hilal's weakness. Koulibaly remains a world-class center-back, but those around him – Tambakti, Mahzari, Al-Harbi – have never proven themselves at the level of the attacking talent they're playing alongside. This is the knot Inzaghi must untie. By pushing the team higher and controlling more possession, he's trying to hide this weakness. But will this tactic hold against stronger opposition like Al-Nassr or Al-Ittihad? I doubt it. From a financial perspective, the Martinelli deal is a risky test. The reported fee is around €60-80 million – no small sum even for a club backed by Saudi's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Throwing him straight into the starting XI could be a way to justify this investment. But if Martinelli underperforms, the pressure will mount on both the player and the management. For me, contracts don't create eras; eras create contracts. A big contract only matters when it's repaid with performances on the pitch. Transfer windows are just the tip of the iceberg; the hidden cash flow is the real control panel. When I look at Al-Hilal, I don't just see three new names in the starting XI. I see an overall strategy: bringing in players at their peak, not stars past their prime. This marks a major shift in the Saudi Pro League's approach, which was previously criticized as a destination for experienced but ambitionless players. Martinelli is 23, Summerville is 23, Watkins is 29 – all in the prime of their careers. However, there's a blind spot the official narrative doesn't mention. Throwing three new signings straight into the starting XI could be a double-edged sword. In football, cohesion is something money can't buy. It takes time for players to understand each other's intentions, for passes to become as natural as reflexes. Inzaghi is betting that individual quality will compensate for the lack of collective understanding. But to me, this is a somewhat reckless optimism. I've seen too many wealthy teams collapse because they believed money could buy chemistry. The match against Neom – a newly founded club tied to the NEOM megaproject – is a perfect opportunity for experimentation. The opponent is clearly weaker, with no pressure to win at all costs. But precisely because of that, it's a psychological trap. If Al-Hilal win big, everything will be praised. If they only win narrowly or worse, drop points, the narrative will flip completely. The press will start questioning Inzaghi's haste, whether he's disrupting the squad balance for an expensive signing. From a governance perspective, I see a somewhat arrogant confidence from Inzaghi. He doesn't accept the 'time to adapt' excuse. He wants to make an immediate impact, to prove his philosophy can work anywhere, with any squad. This is admirable, but also risky. Saudi Pro League football isn't Serie A. The pace is slower, but the physicality is higher. Referees tend to let the game flow more. These demand adaptations that not every strategist can make. There's a story I remember from the 2026 World Cup. When Mbappé shone in France's 4-3 win over Argentina, I didn't just look at his technique. I looked at his commercial value, his transfer potential, how he could reshape the market. Martinelli isn't Mbappé, but he's at a similar crossroads. If he succeeds at Al-Hilal, he'll open the door for more young European players to see the Saudi Pro League as a serious destination, not just a retirement home. If he fails, he'll become evidence for critics that this league can't compete at the highest level. People ask me who will rise this year. The right question is: who has silently died on the balance sheet? Al-Hilal are spending a lot of money, but the biggest question isn't how much they spend, but whether they know how to use it effectively. Throwing Martinelli straight into the starting XI is a powerful signal of intent, but also a challenge to Inzaghi himself. If he fails, he has no excuses. No 'adaptation period', no 'need more time'. He's put himself in a no-retreat position. I'll watch this match with particular interest. Not because I want to see who wins, but because I want to see how Inzaghi handles the pressure he's created himself. Will he keep this attacking trident for the entire match? Will he adjust tactics if things don't go as planned? These small decisions will reveal a lot about his true character, how he faces adversity. And that's the most interesting part of modern football – not the tactics on the drawing board, but how strategists react when their plans collapse. The 2026 pandemic taught me an important lesson: only those who know how to rebuild survive. Al-Hilal are rebuilding their squad aggressively. But rebuilding isn't just about buying. It's about building from the foundations, creating a sustainable winning culture. Inzaghi can bring new tactical ideas, but can he create a united team where every player is willing to sacrifice for each other? That's the most important question. And the answer won't come from matches against Neom or Al-Shabab. It'll come from high-stakes games where every mistake costs points. When I look at Al-Hilal's squad, I can't help but think about the difference between European and Asian football. In Europe, top clubs often build squads over years, patiently developing each position. In the Saudi Pro League, everything happens faster, more urgently. Clubs backed by massive financial resources tend to buy in bulk and expect immediate results. This creates immense pressure on coaches, who must balance building a style of play with meeting management's expectations. Inzaghi is facing exactly that pressure. He was hired with an impressive resume, but football doesn't respect the past. It only cares about the present and the future. If he succeeds, he'll be hailed as a genius. If he fails, he'll be quickly forgotten. That's the harsh law of this game. And for me, someone who has seen too many coaches come and go, I know only those who can adapt will survive long-term. The match against Neom won't define Al-Hilal's season. But it will define how Inzaghi approaches his job. It'll show us whether he truly believes in what he's doing, or just trying to please wealthy owners. For me, the answer lies in how he uses Martinelli. If he lets him play freely, trusting his ability, then he's a true strategist. If he's just using him as a pawn to justify an investment, then I fear things won't end well. Football is a game of decisions. And Inzaghi's decision before the Neom match is one of the boldest I've seen recently. It shows confidence, but also recklessness. I'll wait for the result. And I'll remember that in football, as in life, nothing is certain until the final whistle. That's why I love this game – it always surprises us, even when we think we've seen it all.