Al Hilal’s Bold Move: New Three-Year Pact for Ruben Neves Amid European Hopes

Al Hilal Saudi FC has put forward a fresh bid to its Portuguese star Ruben Neves to extend his stay with the club in the near future.

Neves’ contract with the Riyadh giants runs out at the end of the current season, and he has drawn interest from several European clubs hoping to sign him after his spell with the Blue Wave.

New offer from Al Hilal

According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Yom, the club’s management is eager to resolve a new deal with Neves, driven by coach Simone Inzaghi.

The newspaper added that Al Hilal submitted a three-year contract, without disclosing its value, in a bid to persuade the player to stay.

Previously, the initial proposal envisaged a two-year stay, but Neves asked for more time to give his final word on the renewal, prompting the club to present a fresh offer.

Sources also noted that Neves did not ask for extra money, but he does want to return to Europe eventually; his family, however, prefers Riyadh and the Blues’ blue skies over a European winter.

Inzaghi’s wish

Inzaghi, the Italian coach, remains adamant about keeping Ruben Neves in the coming period, viewing him as a core pillar of the squad.

The club’s plan is to lock down its stars officially, following renewals with Salem Al-Dawsari, Yasin Bono, Serge Milinkovic-Savic, and Hamad Al-Yami, with Neves potentially joining this group.

The aim is to close this chapter and put an end to rumors of an Europe-bound exit by season’s end.

Neves has featured for Al Hilal in 18 matches across all competitions this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

He also contributed to the historic achievement of reaching the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals for the Blue Wave.

In total, the Portuguese midfielder has appeared in 104 matches for the club across competitions, scoring 12 goals and delivering 25 assists, and has helped win four domestic titles, including the league and the King’s Cup, along with two domestic super cups.

European offers

Neves has attracted lucrative offers to return to Europe in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur reported that Fenerbahce are watching Neves closely and hope to land him if he does not renew with Al Hilal.

Konur added that Fenerbahce has not yet moved officially, but expects the player’s official stance to remain open to a move back to Europe.

The same source noted interest from other European clubs monitoring Neves’s situation, including Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, West Ham, Inter Milan, and Juventus.

Inzaghi surpasses Jesus

Separately, Simone Inzaghi managed to surpass Jorge Jesus, the former Zaeem coach and current Al Nassr boss, in a notable AFC Champions League milestone following a recent win over the Iraqi Police.

Inzaghi’s side claimed the best start for Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League, a record previously held by Jorge Jesus and Ramon Diaz, after the emphatic four-goal triumph against the Police.

Al Hilal player suspended

Meanwhile, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation suspended Nasser Al-Dosari after his sending-off against Al Fateh in the latest Roshen Pro League round.

The committee’s statement cited a violation of Article 48-1-1 of the Disciplinary and Ethics Code, imposing a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals, with the decision non-appealable under Article 144.

Final clash in November

Hilal still has one remaining match in November, as they face Al Fateh in the King Cup quarterfinal.

The match is slated for November 28, with Hilal having beaten Al Fateh earlier in the Roshen League and progressed to the King Cup quarterfinals by defeating Al Adalah 1-0 and then overcoming Al Khudood 1-0.

These developments come as the Blue Wave push to maintain their title bid while the transfer window looms and the clock ticks toward a potential European return for Neves, or a long-term stay in Riyadh.

And yes, if contracts could be renewed as long as the rumors, we’d all be negotiating hors d’oeuvres with agents at the family dinner table.