Alarm for Cancelo

When a coach refuses to register a big star mid-season, the message is usually very clear. For Simone Inzaghi, the decision not to include Cancelo in the squad for the second half of the Saudi League season shows that his patience has reached its limit. Cancelo, therefore, faces the possibility of leaving Al-Hilal as early as January 2026.

At first glance, this is a familiar story of a star who can't find his place. But a deeper look reveals multiple layers of problems: from Inzaghi's demanding tactical requirements to the very limitations that have plagued Cancelo in recent years.

Inzaghi was not the type of coach to compromise. He built his team on positional discipline, defensive intensity, and absolute balance between the two flanks.

Inzaghi's system demands that full-backs not only be good attackers but also be able to read defensive situations with high accuracy. Cancelo, at the peak of his form, once fulfilled that requirement. But the current version is no longer as perfect as before.

At Al-Hilal, Cancelo retained his ball-handling skills, long-passing ability, and intelligent runs into the space between the midfield and the flanks. However, the problem lay in consistency and intensity.

Moments of lack of concentration without the ball, slow retreats, gradually became risks in Inzaghi's eyes. For a coach who prioritizes controlling the game through structure, such risks are unacceptable.

Cancelo previously played for Manchester City.

The decision not to register Cancelo was therefore not simply a short-term reaction. It shows that Inzaghi has come to the conclusion that the Portuguese defender's presence no longer serves the team.

In the Saudi League, where clubs have very strict control over their selection of foreign players, the decision to drop a big star is strategic, not based on emotion.

For Cancelo, this is yet another big question mark over his career. After leaving Manchester City, he has constantly had to adapt to new environments, new managers, and systems that no longer revolve around his strengths.

Cancelo is still a top-class player, but he's no longer a default piece in any system. As his fitness and speed decline, his defensive limitations become even more apparent.

The possibility of Al-Hilal leaving in January is therefore not surprising. The only question is where his next destination will be. A European club that values experience but is willing to sacrifice discipline? Or a team that prioritizes commercial value over a systematic approach?

Whichever option he chooses, Cancelo will inevitably face the reality that he will have to adapt, rather than waiting for the team to adapt to him.

Conversely, Inzaghi sent a clear message to the Al-Hilal dressing room. There are no safe zones for reputation. There are no exceptions for the past.

Anyone who doesn't meet tactical requirements will be sidelined, no matter how big their name is. That's how Inzaghi maintained his power and consistency within a star-studded team.

Cancelo's story at Al-Hilal, if it had ended prematurely, wouldn't have been a shock. It would simply be a reminder that in modern football, talent alone isn't enough. When the system doesn't need you, all the glory can be cast aside.

Source: https://znews.vn/bao-dong-cho-canclelo-post1614981.html