Following <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/neymar/">Neymar</a>‘s unexpected return to Santos from Saudi Arabia, boss Jorge Jesus of Al-Hilal has made a stunning change of heart over the Brazilian superstar’s criticism.



Neymar’s move to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/al-hilal-2/">Al-Hilal</a> in 2023&nbsp;was one of the most high-profile transfers in recent soccer history, with the Saudi club paying&nbsp;$93 million&nbsp;to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain. However, his time in&nbsp;Saudi Arabia&nbsp;turned into a nightmare, as injuries plagued his short-lived spell. After playing just&nbsp;five matches, he suffered a&nbsp;devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, ruling him out for the remainder of the&nbsp;previous season. When he attempted a comeback in the following campaign, yet another&nbsp;injury setback&nbsp;forced him back onto the sidelines.



Initially,&nbsp;Jesus was highly critical of Neymar, suggesting that he&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/al-hilal-all-but-confirms-neymars-january-exit-chicago-fire-has-ace-up-sleeve-to-steal-him-away-from-lionel-messis-inter-miami/">was no longer capable of playing at the highest level</a>. These remarks did not sit well with Neymar, who soon worked out a deal with Al-Hilal to&nbsp;terminate his contract&nbsp;and rejoin his boyhood club,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/santos/">Santos</a>. Following his return to Brazil, the 33-year-old did not hold back in addressing his&nbsp;disappointment&nbsp;with how he was treated at Al-Hilal, particularly by Jesus.



<h2>Neymar’s frustration with Jesus and Al-Hilal</h2>



Shortly after making his debut for&nbsp;Santos, Neymar openly criticized&nbsp;Jesus and Al-Hilal, claiming he was fully fit but was still not given the chance to play. Speaking to&nbsp;Caze TV, Neymar <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fury-unleashed-neymar-criticizes-his-former-al-hilal-coach-on-second-santos-debut-very-upset/">did not mince his words</a>: “Obviously, I was very upset with Jorge Jesus’ words when he said that I wasn’t in the same condition as the team.



“In training, I showed that I was fit to play, in the same conditions as the other athletes. When we did group training, I was the one who made the decisions, I was the one who scored the goal, so I put a lot of worms in his head.



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“I don’t even like to talk about it, these controversial subjects, but it’s the reality. When he gave me that information [that I was fit to play], I knew I would show something different when I went on the field. The field speaks. It’s the only place I can defend myself, within the four lines.”



<h2>Jorge Jesus makes U-turn on Neymar criticism</h2>



Following Neymar’s public criticism,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/jorge-jesus/">Jorge Jesus</a> has now softened his stance, admitting that Neymar was simply&nbsp;unlucky&nbsp;rather than past his prime. In a recent interview with&nbsp;Canal 11, the 70-year-old expressed&nbsp;his frustration over how things unfolded, acknowledging Neymar’s&nbsp;talent and professionalism.



“I had no luck at all, neither he nor I. He was at Al-Hilal with a very serious injury. He was the best player I’ve worked with since I became a coach. We didn’t have much time to show everything he had. A good professional, a good friend, he’s not a star.”



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This marked a&nbsp;stunning reversal&nbsp;from Jesus’ previous remarks, where he had implied Neymar&nbsp;was no longer capable of performing at an elite level. Jesus also admitted that he felt&nbsp;personally disappointed&nbsp;that he could not make things work with Neymar.



“But the truth is that things didn’t work out. Sometimes, talking to myself, frustrated, I even think, ‘How come I didn’t manage to get this player, who is a superstar, to do well?’ But whatever. These things happened. If he left, it had to be for Brazil. He’s going to help the national team a lot.”



According to the manager, Neymar left the club feeling&nbsp;deeply hurt, particularly by his earlier assessment that he was&nbsp;no longer at his peak. “Did he leave sad? He did, especially with me. It still hurts me today because he is a star. He is outside the box.”

From criticism to praise: Jorge Jesus shifts stance on ‘best player’ Neymar after Al-Hilal exit and Santos return

From criticism to praise: Jorge Jesus shifts stance on ‘best player’ Neymar after Al-Hilal exit and Santos return - World Soccer Talk

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Recent claims from Saudi Arabian media have recently suggested that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>‘s future may take an unforeseen twist. It has been speculated that the Portuguese superstar may be leaving for Al-Hilal, a team that is fiercely rivals with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/al-nassr/">Al-Nassr</a>.



The alleged transfer would stir up even more controversy, considering the intense rivalry between the two teams. But beyond that, the reason behind the potential move is even more intriguing. According to reports, the idea behind sending&nbsp;Ronaldo to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/al-nassr/">Al-Hilal</a>&nbsp;would be to allow him to participate in the Club World Cup&nbsp;in the summer of&nbsp;2025, a tournament Al-Nassr will not be part of. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Al-Hilal will be representing Saudi soccer&nbsp;in the expanded competition, making them a possible temporary home for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.



Despite the&nbsp;shock factor&nbsp;of such a move, speculation continues, leaving fans wondering whether Ronaldo could make an unprecedented switch to a direct rival to continue expanding his&nbsp;international legacy.



While the rumors of the Portuguese veteran potential&nbsp;Al-Hilal switch&nbsp;have dominated headlines, club officials have attempted to&nbsp;shut down the speculation. In a recent interview,&nbsp;The club’s CEO, Esteve Calzada, firmly <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/could-cristiano-ronaldo-move-to-al-hilal-saudi-pro-league-ceo-reveals-intentions/">denied any such plans</a>: “Ronaldo is not our player. Right now, it is very difficult to imagine something like that.”



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Despite his words, the speculation has not died down, as the possibility of the 40-year-old playing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/club-world-cup/">FIFA Club World Cup</a>&nbsp;remains a tempting prospect for Saudi soccer. His presence in the tournament would be a massive boost for&nbsp;Al-Hilal, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/saudi-pro-league/">Saudi Pro League</a>, and the growing ambitions of soccer in the Middle East.



<h2>What did Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus say about Ronaldo’s future?</h2>



Now,&nbsp;Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus&nbsp;has also addressed the rumors, especially after Neymar‘s exit. While dismissing the possibility of working with Ronaldo, Jesus&nbsp;praised the Portuguese legend&nbsp;for his longevity and ability to perform at the highest level even at&nbsp;40 years old.



During an interview with&nbsp;Channel 11, Jesus was asked whether he could ever coach his compatriot. His response was clear: “Working with him? I don’t think it’ll be possible anymore. He’s an example at 40 years old. In one of the last games we played, I said, ‘How does he run so much at 39? He’s fast and super motivated.’ He lacks nothing.”



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<h2>Al-Nassr’s plans for Ronaldo</h2>



As speculation about&nbsp;Ronaldo’s future&nbsp;continues, new reports suggest that he is set to&nbsp;extend his stay at Al-Nassr&nbsp;for another year. According to&nbsp;Saudi Arabian media outlet Arriyadiyah, he has already&nbsp;agreed to a contract renewal, which will keep him with the club&nbsp;until the summer of 2026.



Interestingly, despite earlier claims that his new contract would include a&nbsp;salary increase and a 5% stake in the club, Arriyadiyah adds that&nbsp;the terms remain the same&nbsp;as his current deal. This means that Ronaldo will continue earning&nbsp;approximately $200 million per year, making him the&nbsp;highest-paid player in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future: Could he move to Saudi Pro League rival Al-Hilal? Jorge Jesus addresses rumors

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future: Could he move to Saudi Pro League rival Al-Hilal? Jorge Jesus addresses rumors - World Soccer Talk

In mid-January,&nbsp;Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus dropped a bombshell&nbsp;about <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/neymar/">Neyma</a>r’s status at the Saudi club. Jesus revealed that the Brazilian forward would&nbsp;not be registered for the Saudi Pro League season&nbsp;and could only play in the&nbsp;Asian Champions League. But what truly grabbed headlines was Jesus’&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/al-hilal-all-but-confirms-neymars-january-exit-chicago-fire-has-ace-up-sleeve-to-steal-him-away-from-lionel-messis-inter-miami/">stinging assessment of Neymar’s physical condition</a>, suggesting that he was no longer capable of performing at the level expected.



“Neymar will not be registered in the team for the championship. He can participate in the Asian Champions League. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/saudi-pro-league/">Saudi League</a> is one of the best leagues in the world. All Al-Hilal players can play for any club in Europe. When he was about to return, he got injured again,”&nbsp;Jesus stated in an interview on January 16.



The Portuguese coach acknowledged Neymar’s talent but expressed concerns about his ability to cope with the physical demands of elite soccer.&nbsp;“He is a player who leaves no doubt, a world-class player. But the truth is that physically, Neymar can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”



For Neymar,&nbsp;his short-lived stint at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/al-hilal-2/">Al-Hilal</a> was marred by injuries. Having signed for the Saudi giants in the summer of 2023 for&nbsp;€90 million, the Brazilian made just&nbsp;seven appearances, scoring only once and registering three assists. His struggles were compounded by a&nbsp;ruptured ACL and damaged meniscus sustained on international duty with Brazil in November 2023, keeping him out until October 2024.



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However, upon his return, he suffered another setback—a&nbsp;hamstring tear—leaving him sidelined once more. His&nbsp;contract with Al-Hilal was ultimately terminated by mutual consent, paving the way for a return to his boyhood club, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/santos/">Santos</a>, on a&nbsp;six-month deal.



<h2>Neymar’s Santos return: Statement on pitch</h2>



Fast forward to February, and Neymar&nbsp;stepped onto the pitch for the first time since his departure from Saudi Arabia, making his second debut for Santos in a Paulista A1 clash against&nbsp;Botafogo. The match ended in a&nbsp;1-1 draw, but the real story was the 33-year-old’s response to the criticism he had received from his former coach.



Neymar&nbsp;entered the game at halftime, donning the iconic&nbsp;number 10 shirt once worn by Pele. Despite still recovering from his long-term injury, he quickly became the&nbsp;most fouled player on the pitch, suffering five challenges from the opposition. He also&nbsp;took six shots and completed 22 passes, some reminiscent of his prime years.



While he couldn’t mark his return with a victory, the forward was satisfied with his performance. Speaking to reporters after the match, he subtly&nbsp;hit back at Jorge Jesus. “I’m ready to play. Of course, I won’t be able to play 90 minutes. I came from a long time out injured. I needed games,”&nbsp;Neymar said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.



However, he did not hide his frustration over his former manager’s remarks.&nbsp;“Obviously, I was very upset with Jorge Jesus’ words when he said I didn’t have the capability to play like the rest of the team.”



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<h2>Night of redemption and respect</h2>



While the match itself didn’t end in a victory for Santos,&nbsp;it was a symbolic win for Neymar. Playing&nbsp;52 minutes—the most he has managed since 2023—he exceeded even his own expectations. “I need more minutes, more matches. I am not 100%, but I didn’t expect to run as much as I did tonight. I will be much better three, four games from now,”&nbsp;Neymar stated.



His impact on the game was clear, as&nbsp;even players from the opposing team rushed to take photos with him after the final whistle. “I left here at age 21, traveled the world, and made history at the clubs I played for,”&nbsp;Neymar reflected.&nbsp;“This [taking pictures with rivals] is the respect I get back home.”

Fury unleashed – Neymar criticizes his former Al-Hilal coach on second Santos debut: 'Very upset'

Fury unleashed – Neymar criticizes his former Al-Hilal coach on second Santos debut: 'Very upset' - World Soccer Talk

One coach in the Saudi Pro League has hit back at Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, throwing shade at the Eredivisie in the process. Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus is now in his second season during his second stint with the Saudi club. Last year, he guided the side to an undefeated campaign in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a>. Therefore, he is standing up for the league after Ronald Koeman said the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/koeman-changed-tones-on-transfers-speaking-about-depay/">Brazilian top flight is better than the Saudi</a> top division. Jorge Jesus took it one step further to attack the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/eredivisie-tv-schedule/">Eredivisie</a>, which he claimed is a worse league than the Saudi Pro League.



“Eredivisie is one of the weakest leagues in Europe,” Jorge Jesus <a href="https://portugoal.net/portuguese-abroad/4159-theres-no-comparison-between-saudi-and-portuguese-leagues-al-hilal-boss-jorge-jesus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. “Koeman is in no position to make that kind of statement because he doesn’t know about the [Saudi Pro League]. There is no comparison. The SPL is stronger than Eredivisie.”



In recent seasons, the Saudi Pro League has made strides to bolster its soccer standing. That centers around bringing in stars from Europe, many past their primes. Consequently, clubs like Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad have benefited. Al Hilal and Jorge Jesus have brought in players like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/al-hilal-to-exclude-neymar-until-january-what-does-future-hold/">Neymar</a>, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly in the last two seasons. Jorge Jesus would argue the talent in the Eredivisie is not as strong, citing its reputation as a selling league to other European elites.



In fairness, Koeman did not comment on the Eredivisie when speaking about the Saudi Pro League. The Dutch head coach did, however, call seven players from the Eredivisie into his most recent squad during the September international break. Those seven players came from four clubs within the Dutch top flight.



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<h2>Comparing the Saudi Pro League and the Eredivisie</h2>



The argument in favor of the Saudi Pro League comes from the list of talent. In addition to the players on Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League boasts the likes of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ronaldo-targets-al-nassr-reunion-with-ex-real-madrid-boss/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney. Again, though these top talents are predominantly on the teams at the top of the table.



Holistically, it is challenging to compare leagues. The Opta World Rankings at least provide a means of comparison between international divisions. Earlier in 2024, Opta ranked the Eredivisie as the 15th strongest league in the world. That is below the likes of the Brasileirao, Liga MX and even Major League Soccer. By comparison, the Saudi Pro League was down to 26th in the world. It is between the top flights from Cyprus and Czechia, for reference.



In Jorge Jesus’s defense, some of the top teams in the Saudi Pro League are on the same level as those in the Eredivisie. His Al Hilal side is in the same area of the Opta Power Rankings as PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Al Nassr is also part of the top 100 clubs in the world based on current form. Yet, those Saudi sides are playing against teams far below the bottom teams in the Eredivisie, which hurts the overall balance of the league.



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