Saudi Pro League could be better than Ligue 1 – Neymar

According to Brazil captain Neymar, Saudi Arabia’s football league could already be stronger than France’s Ligue 1.

The 31-year-old forward joined the Saudi Pro League from Paris St-Germain in August for a fee of around £77.5 million plus add-ons.

Neymar joined Al-Hilal during a transfer window in which Saudi teams spent more than £700 million on foreign players.

“For the names that went to Saudi Arabia, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saudi league is better than the French,” he said.

According to Fifa estimates, Saudi clubs’ spending on international signings this summer was second only to the Premier League, whose teams spent just under £1.6 billion on recruiting players overseas.

While Al-Ittihad were unable to lure Mohamed Salah away from Liverpool, Salah’s former teammates Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, and Fabinho were among those who relocated to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi clubs also signed Georginio Wijnaldum, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, and Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane.

Inter Milan’s Champions League final captain Marcelo Brozovic, Barcelona’s Franck Kessie, Celtic’s Jota, and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are among those who have moved to the Saudi Pro League.

There might have been a new world record transfer as well. After making a £259 million proposal, PSG granted Al-Hilal permission to speak with Kylian Mbappe, but the striker chose to stay with the French champions, and Neymar was sold instead.