UCL finalist manager admits Barcelona are being missed at Club World Cup | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi, now leading Saudi side Al-Hilal, did not hold back when speaking ahead of his team’s FIFA Club World Cup clash against RB Salzburg.

Inzaghi, who recently guided Inter Milan to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final after beating Barcelona in the semi-finals, praised the quality of the ongoing tournament.

However, he also made sure to highlight what he sees as a major shortcoming: the absence of FC Barcelona.

Al-Hilal opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid, a strong result against one of Europe’s top clubs.

But despite the high level of competition, the Italian manager pointed to a missing piece.

“The Club World Cup has been fantastic so far. All the elite clubs are here. We are only missing Barcelona,” said Inzaghi as quoted by SPORT.

Indeed a major absentee

The Club World Cup features teams based on performances from previous seasons, which left Barcelona out of the picture.

Barcelona have missed out on Club World Cup. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

This is despite their domestic dominance during the current campaign and the fact that they went furthest among La Liga teams in the latest Champions League edition.

Inzaghi’s comments reflect the feelings of many in the football world who believe Barça’s exclusion doesn’t quite match the level they have shown this year.

Thunderstorm delays and mixed match quality have already drawn attention during the tournament, but it is the absence of giants like Barcelona that stands out most to seasoned professionals like Inzaghi.

It is clear that when a coach with Champions League pedigree makes such a remark, it is not casual.

For a tournament that aims to bring together the world’s top clubs, missing a team of Barcelona’s stature feels like a noticeable gap.

The message from Inzaghi is simple but powerful that if you want a true world championship, Barcelona should be there.