Although Ronaldo has played regularly since joining Al-Nassr in 2023 and Neymar has been injured for almost a year for Al-Hilal, both are major assets for the Saudi Pro League. With the high-profile duo’s contract up next summer, league CEO Omar Mugharbel was asked about the efforts being made to retain both players – but he suggested it wasn’t really up to him .
He said, via FourFourTwo: “ It’s no secret that Ronaldo has had a huge impact on the league, both domestically and internationally. It creates a lot of value and continues to do so. However, all discussions around duration, contract and re-signing are a matter between Ronaldo and the club to agree on whether it will happen or not. »
And if they stayed
Asked about Neymar, he replied: “Like Ronaldo, it’s a discussion between the club and the player about how they see their future. Having Neymar in the league, even though he hasn’t played, he has a huge following around the world and he’s pretty active from a community perspective, so it creates a lot of value for the league. But what the future holds is something the player and club need to discuss. We play a facilitator role, but the club must be at the forefront of decision-making. There are certainly discussions that take place, but it starts with the club and the player saying, ‘We want this to happen.’ That’s 90% of the whole process. »
If the Saudi Pro League is to continue to gain prestige and popularity, it may need to secure the services of players like Neymar and Ronaldo. This, along with the astronomical salaries that clubs can offer, have attracted many players to the league, but that could take a hit if both players head for new pastures at the end of the season.
