One of Saudi Arabia’s biggest footballing acquisitions has suggested that the Saudi Pro League could already be of a better standard than Ligue 1, the top tier of football in France.
Neymar left French champions Paris St-Germain to join Al-Hilal, the 18-time Saudi Arabian champions and four-time AFC Champions League winners in a deal worth €90m. He is yet to make his debut for Jorge Jesus’ side due to injury.
Speaking whilst on international duty with Brazil, Neymar had this to say about the Saudi Pro League: “For the names that went to Saudi Arabia, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saudi league is better than the French.”
“I can assure [you] that the football in Saudi Arabia is the same. The ball is round; we have goal-posts.”
Neymar already boasts well over 120 caps for Brazil and will be hoping his time at Al-Hilal helps extend his long career with the national team, whom he still has a realistic chance of scoring 100 goals for.
During a six-year spell at PSG, Neymar won the Ligue 1 title five times, also lifting the Coupe de France on three occasions. Prior to that, the Brazilian superstar had enjoyed a hugely successful time at Barcelona, where he lifted the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League, not to mention two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies and the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Hilal current sit top of the Saudi Pro League table ahead of Al-Taawoun on goal difference, having accrued 13 points from a possible 15 so far, scoring 14 goals and conceding just five. With Neymar yet to slot into the starting XI, it’s an exciting time to be an Al-Hilal fan. The 31-year-old will link up with fellow big-name signings such as Ruben Neves and Aleksandr Mitrovic.
