Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves has disclosed that he was on the verge of joining either Arsenal or Barcelona last summer before making the switch to Saudi Arabia.
Entering the final year of his contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Neves expressed his desire to play for a team competing for trophies, attracting interest from top European clubs.
Despite interest from several sides, it was Al Hilal that secured Neves’ signature, completing a deal for £47 million. The 26-year-old revealed that he was close to joining Barcelona and Arsenal, among others, before opting for the move to the Middle East.
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“I was close to three clubs, and it ended up not happening, which saddened me and helped me make the decision to go to Al Hilal,” Neves admitted to O Jogo. “I didn’t want to mention names, but Barcelona was one of the hottest, and it wasn’t a lie. It was close to happening, just like with Arsenal. Then there was another club outside England. These were events that happened, and then, with this golden opportunity, I had no doubts about accepting it. I was already hardened by transfers that didn’t happen.”
While Neves, at 26, remains open to a return to Europe in the future, he emphasized that he is in no hurry to conclude his Middle Eastern adventure.
“Playing in Saudi doesn’t make me feel any different compared to my colleagues in Europe,” he stated. “My physical capacity is great. I’m on track to, one day, be able to return to Europe and play at the highest level. But, to be honest, I don’t plan on returning anytime soon.”
Neves believes that the Saudi Pro League could become one of the most important leagues globally within two years, given the high quality of foreign players joining. With four goals and six assists in 28 appearances for Al Hilal, the midfielder looks forward to continuing his journey in Saudi Arabia.
Al Hilal currently leads the Saudi Pro League standings by seven points, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.