“They Called Him Crazy”: Neymar Credits Cristiano Ronaldo For Stars Flocking Saudi Pro League (instagram.com/neymarjr)
Al Hilal’s Brazilian star striker Neymar Jr gave Cristiano Ronaldo all credits for big names from European professional football circle joining Saudi Arabian Professional league.
“”I believe Cristiano Ronaldo started all of this and everybody called him “crazy”, and this and that, today you see the league more and more,”” Neymar told Al-Hilal”s official channels.
According to reports, Neymar Jr has joined Saudi Arabian football club Al Hilal on a record $300 million package for two years and the player will not be given an option to extend his contract at the Riyadh based club. Football transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that the package could go up to a potential $400m in total until 2025 based on add-ons and commercial deals.
Neymar Jr, who joined Al Hilal from French side Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, had played against Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga for Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo joining Al Nassr in January this year had raised several questions including why a player like him moving to a league where footballers plan their retirement.
But, once he joined the Saudi Pro league, what followed was a mass exodus of players from established European leagues to the Asian country.
Big names include: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli), Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq) Malcom (Al Hilal), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal), Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli), Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), Jota (Al Ittihad), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad), N”Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Anderson Talisca (Al Nassr).
Last week, Cristiano Ronaldo lifted his first trophy in Saudi Arabia. After successful spells in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first silverware with Nassr after beating Al Hilal in the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup in Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium. Al Nassr beat Saudi Arabian Club Al Hilal for 2-1.
