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.


Bologna book final with Milan after cruising past Empoli in Coppa Italia

Updated 14 sec ago
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Bologna book final with Milan after cruising past Empoli in Coppa Italia

  • Bologna will play in the Coppa Italia final for the first time since their victory in 1974
  • Italiano: We dedicate this final to the people of Bologna, who support us tremendously

BOLOGNA, Italy: Bologna eased into the Coppa Italia final following a 2–1 victory over Empoli at home on Thursday, which handed them a resounding 5–1 aggregate win as they set up a showdown with AC Milan.

Bologna strolled into their Coppa Italia semifinal second leg with a comfortable cushion, with Empoli facing an uphill task of overturning a three-goal deficit.

Giovanni Fabbian compounded Empoli’s misery after just seven minutes when the unmarked midfielder headed in a cross to extend Bologna’s aggregate advantage.

While the visitors may have felt their Coppa Italia run was already over, they still responded in the 33rd minute as Ola Solbakken’s angled drive was parried by Federico Ravaglia into the path of Viktor Kovalenko, who slotted in the rebound.

Both sides used the closing stages to express themselves more freely, playing with flair and imagination, but it was Thijs Dallinga who met a cross to head in another Bologna goal four minutes from time, sealing the win.

First final in 51 years

Bologna will play in the Coppa Italia final for the first time since their victory in 1974.

“It was a goal, the dream of this city and the club: we have honored this competition from the start, and when you reach the final stretch, everyone wants to go all the way,” Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano told Mediaset.

“We dedicate this final to the people of Bologna, who support us tremendously.”

Bologna will face Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on May 14.

“That would upset Milan, but we hope to play a great match, arriving in top condition,” Italiano added.

“Our self-esteem is already sky-high, and we know we’re facing a team of champions, but we’ll try to use our strengths. We can’t wait to get to Rome, and we hope to have those 30,000 fans at the Olimpico.”


‘He ran to Spain’: Eubank Jr. takes the mic as tempers flare at Live Media Press Conference

Updated 29 min 50 sec ago
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‘He ran to Spain’: Eubank Jr. takes the mic as tempers flare at Live Media Press Conference

LONDON: If the first two days of Fight Week were about appearances, Day 3 was about pressure.
The Live Media Press Conference, held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, stripped away the rehearsed lines and brand polish. What unfolded instead was a tense, theatrical showdown between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, just 48 hours before they meet in a ring already charged with legacy, accusations, and unfinished history.
From the moment Eubank walked in, dressed sharp and confident, the tone shifted. Benn entered quieter, focused but noticeably reserved. The crowd — a mix of media, fans, undercard fighters, and organizers — picked up on the contrast immediately. The flashbulbs didn’t wait. Neither did Eubank.
“He ran”
Standing before a packed room and a bank of cameras, Eubank delivered what felt more like a monologue than a media answer.
“Conor ran to Spain,” he said, pausing to let the tension land. “He couldn’t take the noise here — the chants, the headlines, the jokes. So he left. I stayed. I trained here. I spoke to the kids. I kept my feet in the city. The public's invested in this fight. I feel that every time I step outside. And believe it or not — most of that energy’s been positive.”
He wasn’t done.
“I’m happy with where I am mentally. He’s not. You’ll see that pressure on his face by Friday. It’s building. And on Saturday — it’ll crack.”
Benn holds back
Benn, to his credit, didn’t rise to the bait. He kept his responses brief, even measured. But that silence seemed to speak as loudly as Eubank’s taunts. The contrast was stark: one man played to the crowd, the other kept his fire under wraps. Neither showed signs of blinking — just two different approaches to the same storm.

The Live Media Press Conference was held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (GEA)


But the silence raised questions. Was it composure? Or calculation?
More than just hype
This wasn’t the usual press junket. The room was crowded, the atmosphere sharp. Reporters leaned in. Even the undercard fighters — who had earlier spoken about their own bouts — sat up straighter as the main event men took the stage.
This is what happens when a fight is more than a fight. When it’s about fathers, and pasts, and public reputations. When it’s about three years of legal battles, insults, cancelled bouts, and a fanbase divided.
This is Eubank vs. Benn, but it’s also history vs. redemption.
Arab News on the ground
Arab News was on the ground throughout the press conference, reporting live as fighters from across the card took their seats, answered questions, and stared down expectations. From rising talents to headline names, the air at Tottenham was charged — a stadium preparing to trade goals for gloves.
What comes next
With Friday’s weigh-in still ahead, the emotional temperature continues to rise. Saturday’s Fatal Fury-themed fight night will be broadcast globally, with a packed card beneath the headline event. And while most fans will tune in for the fists, the mind games may prove just as decisive.
With the weigh-in coming Friday and the fight just around the corner, the noise isn’t fading. It’s building.


Atletico thump Rayo, Valladolid relegated after Betis defeat

Updated 25 April 2025
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Atletico thump Rayo, Valladolid relegated after Betis defeat

MADRID: Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-0 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday as they bounced back from defeat at Las Palmas last weekend.
Real Betis bolstered their Champions League ambitions with a 5-1 win over Real Valladolid, confirming the visitors’ long-expected relegation.
Atletico have little to play for in the rest of the season with leaders Barcelona 10 points clear with five matches remaining, but produced a solid derby display.
Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring in the third minute after Giuliano Simeone, son of coach Diego, crossed for the Norwegian target man to nod home at the back post.
It was a formula which should have led to more goals for Atletico but the striker wasted several presentable opportunities.
Sorloth headed over a few minutes later and then was denied by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.
Atletico were outplaying Rayo but the visitors could have levelled when Isi Palazon drilled toward the far corner and Jan Oblak made a fine save.
Sorloth spurned another headed opportunity before Conor Gallagher struck just before half-time.
Rodrigo de Paul lofted a cross into the area which the former Chelsea midfielder nodded beyond Batalla.
Oblak tipped over a Palazon header as Rayo looked for an equalizer, before Atletico substitute Antoine Griezmann fired narrowly wide after a Julian Alvarez backheel teed him up.
Julian Alvarez rounded off the win in the second half with his 15th La Liga goal of the season after Griezmann sent him through.
Real Betis bolstered their hopes of finishing in the top five as they hammered Valladolid at the Benito Villamarin stadium with playmaker Isco on the scoresheet.
Former Brazil great Ronaldo is the majority shareholder at Valladolid, who were promoted last season but immediately return to the second tier after losing 25 of their 33 games so far.
Betis moved fifth, two points above Villarreal who have a game in hand which they will play on Sunday against Espanyol.
Earlier Osasuna beat Sevilla 1-0 and Leganes grabbed a late 1-1 draw at home against Girona, leaving the Madrid side 19th and four points from safety.


Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

Updated 24 April 2025
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Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

  • Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood
  • Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket

BENGALURU, India: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood starred with 4-33 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 11 run IPL win at home against Rajasthan Royals, who won the toss and chose to field first Thursday.
Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood in the 19th over of the chase.
Jurel scored a 34-ball 47 and was removed with 17 needed off 9 balls for the win.
Hazlewood removed England’s Jofra Archer on the next ball, leaving Royals reeling with 17 needed off the final over.
Earlier, Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket.
Openers Kohli and Phil Salt raced to 59-0 in the powerplay before Salt was removed on 26 in the seventh over with the team on 61-1.
Kohli then built an important 95 run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before finally falling in the 16th over to Archer.
Padikkal, who was batting very well, fell soon after a 27-ball 50, with Bengaluru on 161-3.
Quick wickets toward the end took away the momentum before key cameos by Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 20.
Archer was Rajasthan’s standout bowler and finished with 33-1. Sandeep Sharma took 2-45 and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga finished with 1-30.
Rajasthan’s young top-order batters started really well and stayed ahead of the required run rate for the first half of the chase.
Indian Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit 19-ball 49 before he was removed by Hazlewood.
His opening partner, Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell early on 16 to India veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished with 1-50 in his four-over spell.
Spinner Krunal Pandya bowled an important spell and removed both Nitish Rana (28) and Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag (22) who looked dangerous after the fall of initial wickets.
Rajasthan were cruising before Rana’s wicket in the 14th over but its batters failed to convert starts into a score to help their team cross the finish line.
“I think we did really well with the ball... We held them back really well,” Parag said after the game.
“With the batting, I thought at the halfway mark we were in the driving seat,” he added.
But “we have ourselves to blame... (The team was) in the driving seat and we let it slip.”
Player-of-the-match Hazlewood said that he “was just sticking to my strengths.”
“I knew hard lengths were hard to hit so I was mixing that up with yorkers, change of pace,” he added.


PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

Updated 24 April 2025
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PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

  • Babar Azam scores unbeaten 56 runs from 42 balls while Hussain Talat smashes 51 runs
  • With two wins under their belt, Zalmi next face Quetta Gladiators on Sunday, April 27

ISLAMABAD: Spurred on by a stellar half-century by skipper Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi beat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets to register their second victory of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X edition in Lahore on Thursday. 
Zalmi were set a modest total of 130 runs after Azam’s side bowled out the Qalandars for a modest 129 runs in 19.2 overs. Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the Zalmi bowlers with 3/15 figures while Luke Wood and Hussain Talat returned figures of 2/25 and 2/18, respectively.
The “Yellow Storm” ran into difficult earlier on during their chase, losing opener Saim Ayub for just 2 runs while star batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell for a duck. Azam kept his cool, scoring 56 runs from 42 balls and building partnerships with Mohammad Haris (20 off 16) and Hussain Talat (51 off 37) to see his team to the end.
“Not an ideal start for our home leg,” the Qalandars wrote on social media platform X. “Overwhelmed with the support of our home crowd, we will come back stronger!“


Qalandars skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi found his form with the ball, clocking in speeds of over 140 kilometers per hour frequently. The left-arm pacer was able to return figures of 2/22 from his four overs while speedster Haris Rauf finished with figures of 1/39 from 3.4 overs. 
Zalmi now have two wins from five matches in the HBL PSL 10 edition so far, beating the Multan Sultans by 120 runs earlier in the tournament to register the largest win in PSL history. They are now placed at number four on the PSL points table, tied with four points with Lahore Qalandars. 
Azam’s side will next take on Quetta Gladiators in the tournament on Apr. 27.