Former Wolves captain Ruben Neves has shared his opinion on the differences between the Premier League and the Saudi Pro League.
After six years at Molineux, Neves bid farewell to Wolves last summer to join Al-Hilal in a deal worth £47m.
It was a shock for many to see Neves leave the Premier League to play in the Saudi Pro League at just 26 years old, with there a lot for the midfielder to play for in Europe.
Like many players, Neves saw the offer from Al-Hilal irrefutable when thinking of his family, ending his association with Wolves to the devastation of the loyal supporters at Molineux.
Ruben Neves compares the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League
Some supporters are still recovering from Neves’ emotional farwell video when the time came to say goodbye to Wolves.
It was a difficult time for both the club and the player, as he embarked on a new venture to Saudi Arabia.
While many players have suffered at international level due to the lack of competition in the Saudi Pro League, Neves has not, still being a representative of Roberto Martinez’s Portugal side.
When on international duty with his nation during the September break in play, Neves provided the media with an interesting scope of what it’s like to trade the Premier League for Saudi, as relayed by O Jogo.
Responding to critics of the Saudi Pro League, Neves said:
“I invite those people to watch Saudi football. If you compare my GPS data from Saudi football to English football, I run even more in Saudi football, with the difference being that I run in 40 degrees celsius.”
The former Wolves midfielder then went on to cite both his and Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance for Portugal against Scotland in relation to where they play domestically.
“I think I’m in a great phase physically. Both Cristiano [Ronaldo] and I came in today and demonstrated once again that Saudi football is not inferior to European football, especially in terms of physicality.”
Wolves let Neves go at the right time
Neves’ admission will surprise many, given the quality that is in the Premier League compared to what’s on offer in Saudi Arabia.
That being said, there are few better qualified to compare the two leagues than a player, as the former Wolves captain has played a season in the Saudi Pro League following his departure.
While saying goodbye to Neves was painful, time suggests that the Old Gold cashed in on the midfielder at the right time.
Gary O’Neil’s side operate in a different manner to how Neves fitted in at Wolves, with the void left by the 27-year-old easier to fill as a result.
One of the strongest parts of O’Neil’s current side is the midfield, making one element of losing Neves simpler to digest.
The former skipper will forever be adored in Wolverhampton, with many glad to see the star still competing at the top level.
Related Topics
