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Neymar has been criticized by Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus for not showing the same level of dedication as Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 31-year-old Brazil international left Paris Saint-Germain to join Al-Hilal for a staggering €90 million last summer and is the Saudi Pro League’s record signing. However, his debut in the Middle East did not go as planned.
Neymar has been sidelined through injury since October and is expected to be out until April with a torn cruciate ligament. He has only played five times for Al-Hilal since his arrival in the summer 2023 transfer market, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
In his absence, former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been Al-Hilal’s right-hand man and the Serbian international has scored 17 league goals since the start of the season. The club currently leads the Saudi Pro League, with 53 points from 17 matches. Al-Hilal are undefeated and have only drawn two matches since the start of the season.
It is therefore seven points ahead of Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s club, which occupies second place. While Al-Hilal has enjoyed success on the pitch, Jorge Jesus believes that Neymar has not tried to complete his transfer since leaving PSG. He recently told journalist Nicolas Vilas Boas: “ Neymar is the opposite of Ronaldo. Ronaldo has more passion for football and he makes it his priority. Neymar is more passionate about other things related to his private life, which he puts first. » Ronaldo has scored 20 league goals with Al-Nassr since the start of the season and currently leads the Saudi Pro League top scorers rankings.
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.