Turkish Giants Circle Al Hilal's Star Neves as Renewal Talks Stall
16 November 2025
Context
A delay in officially finalizing Al Hilal's renewal for Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves has rekindled rumors around the player's future.
Despite earlier reports of a near agreement between Neves and the club, nothing concrete has happened yet, leaving the situation hanging as the season moves forward.
Turkish journalist Akram Konur reported that Fenerbahçe is watching the Neves situation closely and would seek to recruit him if the renewal with Hilal does not go ahead.
The Turkish giants have not yet moved formally, but they are banking on Neves delaying a formal decision and possibly opening the door to a move to Europe.
Several European clubs, including Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and West Ham, along with Inter Milan and Juventus, are monitoring the situation.
Key Numbers and Profile
Neves has now surpassed a century of appearances for Hilal, having played 104 matches and recording 12 goals and 25 assists across all competitions.
He has won four titles with Hilal: the Saudi Pro League, the King's Cup, and two Saudi Super Cups.
The Portuguese midfielder is a cornerstone of Hilal's midfield, blending discipline with broad vision to control the tempo in both attack and defense.
His accurate long and short passes help the team move the ball from the back and create numerical advantages, while his shooting from distance and set-pieces adds a real threat.
Defensively, he acts as a balanced pivot, intercepting smartly, closing spaces, and providing tactical flexibility for the coach.
His presence brings stability and dominance in midfield, balancing the team's possession and build-up play.
Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić form a potent double pivot for Hilal, challenging rivals for domestic and Asian glory.
Compared with other duos such as Kanté and Fabinho in the same league, or Frank Kessi with Ziad Al-Jahani at Al-Ahli and Brozović with Abdullah Al-Khaybri at Al-Nassr, the Neves–Savic pairing stands out for productivity.
Injury News and Current Status
Injuries continue to pose a challenge as Hilal eyes multiple competitions, including the league, the AFC Champions League, and the King's Cup.
Five players — Meteb Al-Harbi, Hamad Al-Yami, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Lagami, and Darwin Nunez — were listed as injured in a club update on X.
Al-Harbi suffered a hamstring tear, ruling him out for five to six weeks, while Al-Yami is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Tamabkti is undergoing treatment, while Lagami and Nunez continue rehab in the clinic and gym, with no set return date yet. Hilal aims to resume the Saudi Pro League after the break with a clash against Al-Fateh in Round 9.
Punchline 1: If negotiations were goals, Neves would be top scorer of the season.
Punchline 2: The rumor mill spins so fast that even the ball needs a passport to move countries.
