Brazilian star Neymar da Silva, who recently joined Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, said that Cristiano Ronaldo was described as “crazy” when he moved to the Saudi Professional Football League, but the experience proved the opposite after the competition grew and developed rapidly.
Al-Hilal announced, on Tuesday, its contract with Neymar for two seasons from Paris Saint-Germain, the French champion, without disclosing the financial details of the contract.
However, press reports stated that the Saudi club would pay Neymar 160 million euros ($175 million) over two seasons.
Neymar expressed his happiness at his move to the Saudi League, pointing to the extent of competition that exists after the transfer of big names from the European continent such as Karim Benzema, the Golden Ball winner with Real Madrid, and his compatriot Roberto Firmino, Liverpool striker, to the competition.
These transfers came after Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in the winter transfer period last season from Manchester United.
“I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo was the pioneer in that, and everyone described him as crazy at the time, and today we see the league growing more and more,” Neymar said to Al-Hilal’s account via the “X” social networking platform formerly known as “Twitter”.
He added, “When you face Ronaldo, Benzema and Firmino, the excitement is at its peak, so I am happy to join this league, because it will be very exciting to play against them.”
“I’m excited to play so many players at the highest level because it makes you play the best you can.”
Neymar confirmed that his move to Al-Hilal, the runner-up of the Club World Cup, would increase his self-confidence because of what he described as a “new challenge.”
“I am happy to join a new competition and take on this new challenge, and of course I am excited to write history,” he said. “Challenges push me forward because such challenges boost your confidence.”
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“Excited to write a new chapter in my story, pursue all goals with the club and help my team-mates.”
“We have the same passion as Al Hilal fans. I will always do my best on the field for the club.”
Neymar expressed his happiness with the level of efficiency and quality of his new team’s performance, and sent a message to Al Hilal fans.
He said, “It is important to have competence in the team because it helps in many of the decisions that you take in your career. My goal is to win more titles and achieve the ambition of the club, as I will do my best.”
Neymar stressed the competitiveness of the Saudi League, after the large transfers made by the teams this summer.
And he added, “I am here to help the league to be bigger… The teams have concluded many deals, and certainly the league will be very competitive, especially after the contracts that took place in the current transfer market.”
Neymar revealed that he had not spoken to any Brazilian player playing in the Saudi League about the nature of life in the country.
He said, “I did not discuss life in Saudi Arabia with anyone, or even the nature of the league, but I had a quick talk with Telles and Malcolm, and they asked me about the possibility of my coming.”
Neymar concluded his speech by trusting the support of the Brazilian fans for Al Hilal next season.
In a related context, the new sports director of FC Barcelona, Deco, admitted that it was impossible for his club to sign Neymar in light of his dire financial situation, despite negotiating with him for his return.
“We all know that in the current economic situation, unfortunately, it was impossible to complete this deal,” Portuguese Deco told the Brazilian station Globo Sporte.
“We needed to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain or with Al-Hilal, which cannot happen given our financial situation,” added Deco, who was appointed by Barcelona, on Wednesday, for a period of three years.
Neymar played for Barcelona between 2013 and 2017 before moving to Saint-Germain for 222 million euros ($245 million), the most expensive deal in football history so far.
Deco (45 years old), who played for the Catalans between 2004 and 2008, was succeeded by Dutchman Jordi Cruyff, son of club legend Johan Cruyff, after he left his position last June after two years.
2023-08-17 12:23:42
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