Neymar lauds Ronaldo for the transformation of football in Saudi Arabia

Ace forward Cristiano Ronaldo is responsible for revolutionising the Saudi Pro League, said Brazilian star Neymar in his first interview following his transfer to Al Hilal. 

Stating that he is looking forward to playing against Ronaldo, the 31 year old also said he is also thrilled to face the likes of Firmino, Benzema among others.

Neymar has penned a two year contract with Al Hilal after completing his move from Paris St Germain. 

“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,” Neymar said on Wednesday.

“It is exciting, meeting top-quality players on the other teams thrills you and motivates you to play even better. And it is a given when you face Ronaldo, Benzema, (Roberto) Firmino, that the excitement is even greater,” Neymar added.

“I think it is very important to have quality in the squad. Obviously, it helps in some decisions you take throughout your career. It was certainly for me,” Neymar said.

“I am very excited to write a new story chasing all the objectives with the club and my teammates – winning more and more titles and fulfilling the club’s ambition,” he added.

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior and Cristiano Ronaldo are arguably two of the greatest footballers of all time. They both have won many individual and team awards, and they are deemed to be among the most sought-after athletes in the world. 

Saudi Arabia wants to improve its sporting image, project itself as a sport-friendly nation and the Ronaldo acquisition is proving to be a step into the right direction. 

Ronaldo’s move to the Riyad based club is the most expensive transfer in the history of Saudi Arabian Football. Ronaldo earns €200 million per year via this deal, which makes him the highest- paid footballer in the world. 

Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr was the driving force for the majority of signings in Saudi Arabia this year. He is one of the most popular and in demand footballers in the world, and his signing did bolster the club’s profile both domestically and internationally.