Impact of Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal will rival that of Ronaldo to Al-Nassr

Neymar celebrates scoring for Paris St. Germain against Olympique de Marseille, Parc des Princes, Paris, France, Oct. 16, 2022. (Reuters)
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Updated 14 August 2023
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Impact of Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal will rival that of Ronaldo to Al-Nassr

  • Brazilian superstar is joining the former Saudi and Asian champions on two-year deal
  • Signing signals Al-Hilal’s intent to regain the supremacy they lost to Al-Ittihad last season

Even considering the remarkable recent influx of players to the Saudi Pro League, it was difficult to imagine one individual deal emulating Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr at the end of last year.

But Neymar Jr. joining Al-Hilal is just a mouth-watering prospect and perhaps the most exciting of the deals that have been made in what has been an unforgettable summer.

Al-Hilal are the most successful team in the history of Saudi Arabian football. The Blues have also been Asian champions more than any other and have a strong case of being the biggest club on the continent.

And now they have Neymar and they are the subject of conversation for football fans around the world. It would be wrong, after all that has happened in recent weeks and months and all the big names that have arrived in the country, to say that this is a massive surprise and an unbelievable move, but it is still a huge deal.

Given the rivalry that exists between the club and Al-Nassr, it is perhaps also a natural step that, after Ronaldo signed for the Yellows in December to send genuine shockwaves around the world, Al-Hilal were always going to respond with one of the other names at the very top of the global football tree. 

Neymar is a global superstar; there is no other way of putting it. Of all the players that have come to Saudi Arabia — and there have been genuine stars such as Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and a growing list of others — there is only Ronaldo who could be said to have a bigger status in the game, and the Brazilian is seven years younger than the Portuguese star.

Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 is still a world record for a transfer fee that was €222 million ($240 million). The forward is an icon of the game and would be on the wish list of any club in the world that had the funds.

When he is on the pitch, there is a sense that anything can happen. I have seen him take such serious punishment from opposition players but in the end, he has a habit of punishing teams with a piece of magic and a couple of goals. A game against Japan in Singapore in 2014 stands out when he scored all four goals in that victory and he was just immense.

Many thought that he would head back to Barcelona as he left Paris, so it is a real coup for Al-Hilal to get his signature. It just means that there is going to be even more attention and interest in the Roshn Saudi League. In terms of star power on display, Ronaldo vs. Neymar ranks alongside any in the world. When you think that in the Riyadh derby there will also be names such as Mane, Brozkovic, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Koulibaly, Fofana and others on the pitch, it shows that the league really is going places.

There will also be huge interest in how he performs in Brazil and the rest of South America as well as the rest of the world. The biggest star in the biggest football nation in the world is now playing in Saudi Arabia.

Neymar has scored 77 goals for Brazil, equaling Pele’s tally (though that is disputed by Pele and the Brazilian federation who claim he scored 92). Neymar’s every move is followed closely back home and that is going to be the case now he is wearing the increasingly famous blue shirt — and it will also be fascinating to see who wins the shirt battle. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr top is a common sight now in cities around the world and it is soon to be followed by Neymar’s Al-Hilal shirt. 

And on the pitch, there are going to be consequences. Al-Hilal lost to Al-Nassr in the final of the King Salman Club Cup, and it was apparent that they lacked a little in attack. Al-Nassr had Ronaldo as a focal point, one who drove the team on. It was something that Hilal did not have — until now. With Neves and Savic behind him as well as Salem Al-Dawsari, Michael and Malcom, Neymar really could lead Al-Hilal to the next level and that means the title at home and in Asia. That is always the expectation at the club and even more so now.

The pressure will be on, but Neymar is no stranger to that. He has had issues with injuries of late, but the stage is set for him to come to Riyadh and do what he does best. This season was already a mouth-watering one in terms of talent, attention and all the storylines. Now it has moved up to the next level with Neymar and we all will be watching.


Inter Milan eye historic Italian Super Cup triumph in Riyadh showdown with rivals AC Milan

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Inter Milan eye historic Italian Super Cup triumph in Riyadh showdown with rivals AC Milan

  • Both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware

RIYADH: Inter Milan and AC Milan meet on Monday in the Italian Super Cup final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, with both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware in what promises to be a competitive Milan derby.

Inter head into the match looking to extend their recent dominance in the competition, having won the past three Super Cups, including two in Riyadh.

Victory would see them claim a record fourth consecutive title. AC Milan, however, are seeking to end their own trophy drought and derail Inter’s impressive run.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez highlighted the significance of playing in Saudi Arabia, where he scored in both of his team’s previous Super Cup finals in Riyadh.

He said: “For us, playing here has been important in the past finals because we won the trophy and because I scored.

“This is a derby and a final, and we all know how important it is. The goal is to win and bring the trophy home.”

Inter secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta on Thursday, thanks to two goals from Denzel Dumfries.

Manager Simone Inzaghi, who has overseen all of Inter’s recent Super Cup wins, acknowledged the challenge of competing in a derby final.

He said: “It would be very special to win the Super Cup for the fourth time with Inter.

“We face a strong opponent with the same hunger to win. We need to stay focused and deliver a strong performance.”

AC Milan earned their spot in the final by defeating Juventus 2-1 in their semifinal. New manager Sergio Conceicao, who took charge only last week, faces a significant test in his second match with the club.

He said: “The match will be difficult, but we have to focus on ourselves.

“My goal is to prepare the team as best as possible and ensure we approach the game with ambition and hunger to win.”

Conceicao’s plans could hinge on the fitness of key forward Rafael Leao, who is being assessed after missing the semifinal.

Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who joined the club in the summer, is eager to seize the opportunity to win his first trophy.

He said: “It’s a great chance for us as a group to win something. We have to play with confidence and take this opportunity.”

Monday’s match marks the fifth time the Italian Super Cup has been staged in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh hosting for the fourth time.

Inter’s previous successes in Riyadh have given them an edge in the tournament, but AC will be determined to change the narrative and claim their first Super Cup since 2016.


5 things we learned from 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait

Updated 05 January 2025
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5 things we learned from 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait

  • Bahrain are an emerging force, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar will hope to move on from disappointing campaigns when World Cup qualification returns

 

LONDON: The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain coming from behind to defeat Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City. Here are five takeaways from the latest edition of the biennial tournament.

More questions than answers for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s semi-final exit after a 2-1 loss to Oman ended a disappointing 10 days or so. The positives were that the team managed to score in all four games, which will be welcome after four World Cup qualifiers without a goal in October and November.

But Herve Renard’s men were deservedly beaten by Bahrain, needed a last-minute goal to defeat Yemen in a game they could easily have lost and, a good spell against Iraq apart, struggled to find rhythm and fluency. At least they made it to the semi-finals but then losing to Oman, who played with 10 men for two-thirds of the game, was a poor way to end the competition.

The coach may now know more about what his team needs but does not look any closer to finding the solutions, especially when star Salem Al-Dawsari does not provide them. Renard, less than three months back in the job, starts 2025 under more pressure with a team that is low on confidence and looking leaky at the back.

Bahrain, an emerging force

The Reds had a good 2024 and 2025 has started perfectly. As Croatian coach Dragan Talajic comes up to his first anniversary in Manama, he has helped to fashion a tough-to-beat Bahrain that have real team spirit, work hard and are growing in confidence going forward. They deserved to win their group and then dug deep in the knockout stage. Mohamed Marhoon sums it all up. The midfielder scored the only goal against Kuwait in the last-four clash and then in the final against Oman, his energy, skill and willingness to run at defenders created both goals and delivered the trophy.

There is a resilience about this Bahrain team and the champions can look forward to 2025 with confidence and even dreams of a first World Cup appearance.

No new-coach bounce for Qatar, UAE inconsistent

Go back a year and Qatar were just about to start a successful, and slightly surprising, defence of the Asian Cup. As they lifted the trophy and celebrated, it was assumed that the Maroons were going to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. But a poor start to the third round cost “Tintin” Marquez his job in December and he was replaced by fellow Spaniard Luis Garcia. There was no new-coach bounce however as Qatar ended up bottom of Group A without a win. Garcia and his men will look back at missed chances proving costly.

Although the UAE had exactly the same record, goals scored and conceded, coach Paulo Bento will be a little happier. There were some new faces who made the trip to Kuwait but the Portuguese boss needs to get to grips with the team’s inconsistency. 

Iraq the biggest losers

The holders made the short trip to Kuwait in decent form. They were the only one of the seven teams involved in World Cup qualification to be sitting in the automatic spots in their group. A win at the Gulf Cup would really have put a spring in their step. Yet, it all went wrong and coach Jesus Casas, linked with the vacant South Korea job in the summer, is under pressure. 

The Spanish boss talked of having the chance to look at some young players but there were few positives. Star striker Aymen Hussein scored to give a hard-fought win over Yemen in the opening game. It was not great but a potential platform to challenge for the trophy. It didn’t happen. There was a 2-0 loss to Bahrain when the Lions of Mesopotamia were outfought and outthought by the eventual winners. It was followed by a 3-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. The usually strong backline looked flimsy, which is a problem when there is a lack of creativity going forward. 

Bigger challenges await

Even when the celebrations die down in Manama, fans, players and media in Bahrain would swap it all for a place at the 2026 World Cup. Seven of the eight teams had an eye or more on the resumption of qualification in March and with four of the 10 games remaining in the third round, this really is a crucial time.

For the likes of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq, their disappointing results will quickly be forgotten if they hit the ground running in the coming months and get the wins to take them to North America. If so, they will point out that the Gulf Cup counted as vital preparation that was more important than results. Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait will be looking to build on their positive performances and results to make strides towards North America.

It remains to be seen what the legacy of this tournament turns out to be.


Pakistan begins voting for PSL Fans’ Choice Awards

Updated 05 January 2025
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Pakistan begins voting for PSL Fans’ Choice Awards

  • Voting for six categories will take place on PSL official YouTube Channel at 6pm every day till January 10
  • PSL Players’ Draft is scheduled for Jan. 11, while the 2025 edition will be held between April 8 and May 19

ISLAMABAD: The voting process for the much-awaited Pakistan Super League (PSL) Fans’ Choice Awards began on Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, with voting for the best batter taking place on PSL’s official YouTube channel from 6pm Pakistan time.
PSL is set to welcome its landmark 10th edition later this year. The Fans’ Choice Awards mark the celebration of some of the star players who have entertained fans and contributed toward the popularity of the Twenty20 league worldwide.
The nominees for the best batter of the HBL PSL included the top-three leading run-getters across the nine seasons — Babar Azam (3,504 runs), Fakhar Zaman (2,525 runs) and Mohammad Rizwan (2,403 runs).
“The voting for the six categories will take place on the official YouTube channel of the HBL PSL till Friday, 10 January and the winners of the Fans’ Choice Awards will be announced on Saturday, 11 January at the Players’ Draft ceremony,” the PCB said in a statement.
A total of six lucky fans, who would cast their votes on the PSL YouTube channel between Jan. 5 and Jan. 10, will also become eligible to win 2025 edition tickets through a lucky draw.
The six categories for the awards include, best batter, best bowler, best all-rounder, most valuable players, best individual performance, and the PSL icon.
Nominees will be revealed on the PSL official social media handles at the start of voting every day till Jan. 10.


Pakistan, all out for 194, forced to follow on against South Africa

Updated 05 January 2025
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Pakistan, all out for 194, forced to follow on against South Africa

  • Pakistan collapsed after a fourth wicket partnership of 98 between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
  • The stand was broken by 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka five balls after the morning drinks break

CAPE TOWN: South Africa enforced the follow-on after they bowled out Pakistan for 194 to take a first innings lead of 421 runs on the third day of the second Test at Newlands on Sunday.
Pakistan collapsed after a fourth wicket partnership of 98 between Babar Azam (58) and Mohammad Rizwan (46).
The stand was broken by 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka five balls after the morning drinks break when Babar was caught behind by Kyle Verreynne, glancing the ball down the leg side.

South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka celebrates his debut test wicket of Pakistan’s Babar Azam during the third day of the second Test match against Pakistan in Cape Town, South Africa, on January 5, 2025. (AP)

Rizwan followed five overs later when he charged down the pitch against Wiaan Mulder and edged a wild slog into his stumps.

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot during the third day of the second Test match between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town, South Africa, on January 5, 2025. (AP)

Pakistan were without injured opening batsman Saim Ayub and there was minimal resistance from the rest of the batsmen.
Brief scores:
South Africa, first innings, 615.
Pakistan, first innings 194 (Babar Azam 58, Mohammad Rizwan 46; K. Rabada 3-55, K. Maphaka 2-43, K. Maharaj 2-14).
Match situation:
South Africa lead by 421 runs on the first innings and have enforced the follow-on.
 


Pakistan to fly injured Ayub to London for treatment as Champions Trophy looms

Updated 05 January 2025
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Pakistan to fly injured Ayub to London for treatment as Champions Trophy looms

  • Saim Ayub has been ruled out of cricket for six weeks after he sustained ankle injury on Friday 
  • Pakistan are scheduled to play Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand on Feb. 19

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to send injured left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub to London for immediate medical treatment, the board said on Sunday, with the important Champions Trophy tournament just weeks away. 

Ayub has been ruled out of competitive cricket for up to six weeks due to a right ankle fracture that he sustained while fielding against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Ayub, one of Pakistan’s in-form batters who has performed well in white-ball matches against Australia and South Africa in recent weeks, is in danger of missing Pakistan’s Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand at Karachi on Feb. 19.

“Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has decided to send Saim Ayub to London for immediate treatment and the decision was made after consulting the doctors,” the board said in a statement. 

The PCB said that Ayub, who was supposed to return to Pakistan with the squad, will now head to England. It said Naqvi spoke to Ayub over the phone and inquired about his well-being. 

Naqvi said the Pakistani batter will be checked by sports ortho specialist doctors in England, adding that an immediate appointment has been made by the PCB. 

“The medical team is looking into the entire case and Dr. Mumraiz has shared Saim’s medical reports with specialists in England,” Naqvi said. 

He described Ayub as a “brilliant stylish batsman and asset of Pakistan cricket.”

“Saim’s treatment will be done in the best hospital in the world and in this regard all resources will be used for his treatment,” Naqvi said. “We hope that the left-handed batter will make a full recovery before the ICC Champions Trophy.”

Saim will travel to London from Cape Town on the first available flight, with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood accompanying him.