Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves responded strongly to criticism about the transfer of a number of international footballers to Saudi clubs this summer. In his rebuttal, the Portuguese player his arrival in Riyadh was not for the sake of retirement.

Neves’ reaction to the criticism came in the backdrop of a galaxy of international stars signing with leading Saudi Pro League clubs. The Riyadh-based Al-Nassr started the trend by signing Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo last winter. Saudi clubs signed contracts with a number of veteran stars, such as France's Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante, the Senegalese Sadio Mane, the Brazilian Fabinho and the Algerian Riyad Mahrez, this summer.

Neves scored the winning goal on Wednesday for Al-Hilal against the Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in their 2-1 victory, which helped Al-Hilal to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Arab Clubs Championship.

In a televised statement, Neves emphatically denied that he had come to the Saudi capital for recreation. “We did not come here for retirement, but to play football.”

Neves, 26, who bade farewell to Wolverhampton Wanderers to join the Saudi club, continued: “This league has invested well and it will be difficult. If they continue to invest like this, the Saudi Pro League will be among the most competitive in the world.”