RIO DE JANEIRO — The captain of the Brazilian national team and an Al-Hilal player, Neymar da Silva, has lauded the Saudi Arabian Pro League and described it as extremely hard and competitive. He made it clear that he was confident that anyone trying to downplay the level of competition and notable progress in the Saudi League would eventually alter their mind after watching its games.
Neymar said in a press conference before his country's match against Bolivia in the South American World Cup qualifying round: "In Saudi Arabia, there are top-level players in numerous clubs. I haven't played in the Saudi League yet, so I can't say whether it is superior to the French League just yet. But I have no doubt that fans of both leagues will recognize the disparity in competition and power between them.
"Many have tried to downplay the quality of the tournaments there since my arrival in Saudi Arabia, but those who truly understand football and have experience playing the game know the difficulty and competitiveness that await in a league featuring top names and strong clubs," he stated.
The Brazilian superstar added that his club's pursuit of every championship is his next objective.
"I am always hungry for victory, and Al-Hilal has excellent players," he declared. I was prepared to play in Al-Hilal's last match against Al-Ittihad, but a slight injury occurred to me during the final practice before the game. The team's coach, Jorge Jesus, made the decision to keep me off the field for the current game.
"Although I'm not 100% right now, I feel good enough to play," he continued. I do not view Jesus' remarks at that time as harsh in light of my call-up to the national team because I wasn't as prepared then as I am now. I don't anticipate having any trouble keeping up my strong performance with Al-Hilal. I am grateful for the wonderful reception I received in Saudi Arabia from both Al-Hilal and other club supporters.
In addition, Neymar discussed the cultural contrasts he has experienced between Europe and the Arab world, saying: "Of course, there are differences, but I respect the Arab culture and know a lot about it, so I won't have trouble adapting to it."
In addition, he said, "I now know a few Arabic words, but I must admit I didn't learn much French despite spending six years there."
Neymar's remarks highlight the growing interest of international football stars in the league and the rising prestige of the Saudi Arabian Pro League in the global football landscape.
