'The money' - Ruben Neves gives brutally-honest answer when asked why he followed Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia & joined Pro League side Al-Hilal

A steady stream of proven talent bid farewell to Europe in the summer of 2023 and set sail for the Middle East. Cristiano Ronaldo started that trend early in the calendar year when, following his release by Manchester United, he linked up with Al-Nassr.

The likes of Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have since joined the five-time Ballon d’Or in the Middle East, with Neves opting to tread a similar path to his illustrious fellow countryman.

Neves has told BBC Sport when asked why, at just 26 years of age, he decided to leave European football: “Of course one of the things is the money. Of course, you cannot hide that. But when we see the project and I know a lot of people think we say this because just to say it, but it’s not true. When they present us with the project, it’s a very big project. I think people have no idea how the country is improving and how the football is improving here. How the football can be in a few years. In one year, we did this in the Saudi Pro League. I believe in two more years, three more years, that will be an amazing league.”

Neves has already been linked with a return to England, with Saudi ownership at Newcastle seeing a move to St James’ Park speculated on, but he has shrugged off those rumours. The former Wolves midfielder added: “I don’t go. I think that’s rumours because of the owner of the clubs, and because I played in England as well. And there was Newcastle interest before I came here. But I’m really happy here, my family are really happy, and the kids as well.”

Neves is now starring for Al-Hilal and has helped them to the top of the Saudi Pro League. They are without Brazilian superstar Neymar, as he nurses another injury, but the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have established a seven-point lead over Ronaldo, Mane and Al-Nassr.