Hassan Tambakti Returns to Training for Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal have just taken a significant step toward restoring the backbone of their defence.

Hassan Tambakti, sidelined in recent weeks after an injury with the Saudi national team during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, returned to training today and completed the first phase of the session. For Simone Inzaghi and his staff, it is exactly the kind of boost they have been waiting for as the season edges into its most demanding stretch.

Tambakti’s setback had forced him into a strict treatment and rehabilitation programme, all geared toward rebuilding his physical power and sharpening his technical edge. The sight of him back on the grass, moving with the group in that opening block of work, sent a clear message: his comeback is no longer a distant plan, it is getting close.

The club will not rush him. His participation in official matches will depend on how quickly he reaches full fitness and on Inzaghi’s judgement over when to reintroduce him to competitive action. But the signs from today’s session were encouraging, and inside the camp they know how much his presence can change the picture.

Al-Hilal have felt his absence. Recent games have exposed gaps through the middle, with the backline looking vulnerable and several defenders struggling to hit their usual level. The team have been winning battles in some areas of the pitch, only to wobble when tested at the heart of the defence.

Importance of Tambakti

That is where Tambakti matters most.

Inzaghi needs reliability in central defence, especially with Senegal star Kalidou Koulibaly searching for his best form. Tambakti’s return gives the Italian coach the option to reshuffle, to restore a partnership he trusts, and to lean on a defender whose strengths are tailor-made for high-pressure nights: sharp cover, aggression in duels, and a strong sense of danger.

Inside Al-Hilal, they know his value is not just about tackles and interceptions. He brings big-match experience, a calm head in tense moments, and the concentration levels required when a single mistake can swing a title race or a knockout tie. Those are exactly the qualities “the Boss” will lean on as decisive fixtures stack up across multiple competitions.

For now, the headline is simple but significant: Tambakti is back on the training pitch.

If his progression continues and he regains full sharpness, Inzaghi may finally regain the defensive piece he has been missing — the one that could turn a fragile backline into a unit ready to carry Al-Hilal through the season’s defining battles.