Neymar hints Saudi Pro League is better than French Ligue 1
Neymar to surpass Pele's all-time goal record for Brazil.
Neymar's Al-Hilal Presentation (Source: via SPL)
Brazil forward, Neymar, makes a bold claim as he hints that the Saudi Pro League is better than the Ligue 1. With some of the biggest names in football leaving for the Middle East this summer. It does not come as a surprise when the former PSG player said this, “Saudi league… I don’t know whether it is better than the French league or not.”
Neymar Jr. completed his move to Al-Hilal after spending 6 years at PSG for a fee of €90m. Players transferring to Saudi clubs have been criticized for going to the Middle East to earn a quick buck and play lower-level football. Neymar has spoken out on the topic. “I can assure you the football in Saudi Arabia is the same,” he began. “I am sure that it won’t be easy to win the Saudi championship, other teams got stronger, and have famous players.”
A plethora of European talent has left for Saudi Arabia this summer. N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane to name a few. Referred to as the ‘retirement-home’ of football- alongside any other league not in Europe- fans criticize such moves as many players claim to move there for football purposes and not the exorbitant wages.
With Neymar now ‘hinting’ that the Saudi League has bigger names than the French League, could the argument of ‘football purposes’ hold weight? Clubs such as Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad host players whom many European clubs would still love to have. The quality in the Middle East increases with each transfer window and at the moment there seems to be no stopping it.
An injury during training meant that Neymar was unfit to debut for Al-Hilal. Fans will be curious to see how the player fares in the Saudi League and whether will that affect his National Team’s influence.
Neymar to become Brazil’s top goalscorer
77 goals in 124 games- Neymar has equaled Pele‘s record for the highest amount of goals scored for Brazil. Neymar needs but one goal to become the all-time top-scorer for Brazil. When asked on the subject, Neymar replied, “No one ever thought about overcoming that. It is something I will respond to after it is done.” Brazil, who now face Bolivia, will look keenly as Neymar hopes to break the record in front of a home crowd.
Neymar scored his maiden International goal in 2010. In a friendly game against the USA, Neymar scored off a cross by Andre Santos which he headed in. His latest goal would come under heartbreaking circumstances. In the 2022 World Cup Quarter Finals against Croatia. A well-worked goal that saw Ney dribble the ball past the goalkeeper, into the back of the net.
Neymar will be hoping to score his record-breaking goal under better circumstance as Brazil begin their World Cup journey against Bolivia on Friday, 8th of September.
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Syed Talib Haider
(1039 Articles Published)