Brazilian star Neymar has granted his first interview since completing a move to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, and the 31-year-old said he is “very excited” about the move.
He further revealed that it “will be wonderful” to go head-to-head with big football stars like Karim Benzema and Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he credited for the huge influx of stars moving to the Middle East to ply their trade.
“I’m very excited, very happy to join a new league, he said.” “This is a new experience, a new challenge. And of course, I’m excited to write history.
“I believe competitivity is important. That’s why I’m joining this league. Obviously it’s a very different switch, but it’s a new challenge.
“I believe Cristiano Ronaldo started all of this, and everybody called him crazy, and this and that. Today you see the league grow more and more.”
Al-Hilal announced the signing of Neymar to a two-year contract on Tuesday after a transfer fee of around €90 million was agreed with Paris Saint-Germain, where he had spent the past six seasons.
The former Barcelona forward joins the Riyadh-based club in a lucrative deal that will see him earn a reported €150 million a year, and he will add to a long line of big-name players to sign for clubs in Saudi Arabia.
“Yes, absolutely. It’s exciting meeting top quality players on the other teams,” Neymar said when asked about whether the big-name players lured him to the league.
“It thrills you. motivates you to play even better. And it’s a given when you face [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Karim]Benzema, [Roberto] Firmino the excitement is even greater.
“And so I’m very happy to join this league. Facing them will be wonderful. It will be fantastic,” the Brazilian concluded.
Neymar has scored 77 goals in 124 appearances for the Samba Boys, making him the nation’s joint top scorer along with the legendary Pele. He will join fellow Brazilian Malcom in the team, alongside other big-name signings from Europe like Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
