Brazil superstar Neymar is of the view that the Saudi Arabian Pro League could be better than the French Ligue 1.
The 31-year-old completed a mega-money move from Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Public Investment Fund-run Al-Hilal, joining a host of big stars that moved from Europe to the oil-rich Gulf this summer.
There have been questions as to whether playing in the Saudi Pro League could impact Neymar’s form for the Brazil national team but the former Santos forward believes that the crop of players that have moved to Saudi Arabia this summer gives the Pro League leverage over the French Ligue 1 that is among the top five leagues in world football.
Here to shine ✨
“Neymar” in the famous BLUE and WHITE ????⚪️#Neymar_Hilali ???????? pic.twitter.com/xfWQHPsgTF
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 15, 2023
“I can assure that the football there [in Saudi Arabia] is the same,” Neymar said in a press conference.
“The ball is round, we have a goal post. And I think that, for the names that went to Saudi Arabia… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saudi League is better than the French…
“But… but… my head must be good, I must be happy, I must feel well. I know how to take care of myself, what I need to do to be in conditions to play a game. I have been living this for the last 15 years.
“There’s no much secret. We have intense practice there, the thirst to win is still big, I want to win trophies with Al-Hilal…It doesn’t change much.”
Neymar will be expected to be in the Brazil starting lineup when the Selecao take on Bolivia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the early hours of Saturday morning West African time.
