Neymar’s comments about leaving Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain for the Saudi Arabian Professional League are making waves.
“The Saudi Pro League is a higher level than the Ligue 1,” 바카라사이트Neymar, who has been called up to the Brazilian national team, said in a press conference on Monday (Aug. 8).
“Soccer is the same,” Neymar said. “The ball is round, like everywhere,” he said. “Considering the big names that make up the Saudi league, it can be better than the Ligue 1.
“The training sessions are intense. I am hungry for the title and I want to win it with Al-Hilal.”
Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Hilal last month. It’s a big deal, with a transfer fee of €90 million ($128 million) and a two-year contract worth €150 million ($213 million).
Neymar said: “It doesn’t matter what people say. They say the Saudi league is weak, and that’s the most painful thing,” Neymar said with a laugh, adding, “I’m sure it will be an interesting league and I will watch a lot of it.”
Cristiano Ronaldo.
Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad
Saudi Arabia is planning Vision 2030, an economic and social reform project, and one of its goals is to host the 2030 World Cup. The kingdom hopes to win votes by co-hosting the tournament with Egypt and Greece. To that end, the kingdom has purchased Newcastle United and is sponsoring the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Club World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
It’s also about making its domestic leagues more competitive. Starting with Cristiano Ronaldo last season, the Saudi league has attracted world-class stars like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Fabinho. Others, like Neymar and N’Golo Kante, are entering their prime in their mid-20s. “The Saudi Pro League will be among the top five leagues in the world in the future,” Ronaldo said in an interview in May.
Neymar’s comments come on the heels of his recent revelations about his time at Paris Saint-Germain. In an interview with a Brazilian media outlet on April 4, Neymar described Paris Saint-Germain as “hell”.
Neymar’s jersey on display at an Al-Hilal store.
Neymar’s jersey hanging in an Alhilal store.
Neymar’s jersey hanging in an Al-Hilal store.
“I was very happy to see Messi win the World Cup in Qatar last year. He had a heavenly time with the Argentina national team. I think it was very fair that he won the World Cup from a soccer point of view,” Neymar said. “I have a sad perspective on Messi because he lived a life that was like two sides of the same coin. He trains and fights every day, and if he loses, he is unfairly criticized. Especially when he left Paris Saint-Germain, he was treated like he didn’t deserve it. Messi and I had a hell of a time at Paris Saint-Germain. We came to Paris Saint-Germain to become champions and make history. Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed.”
Neymar’s debut for Al-Hilal will be against Al Riyadh on Nov. 16 after the A-League break. “It won’t be difficult to adapt,” Neymar said. “I don’t speak Arabic, but I spent five or six years in France and I learned French quickly. I don’t think it will be any different. I’m excited to discover a new culture. I am happy with my choice and this future that is presented to me,” he emphasized.