Neymar booed in Saudi Arabia as fans chant for Ronaldo
Neymar received an unexpected reception during the "6 Kings Slam" tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia. Instead of applause, the audience greeted him with whistles and cheers for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar, who in 2023 moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Al-Hilal for £78 million, appeared on Thursday at the "6 Kings Slam" tennis tournament. However, rather than an enthusiastic welcome, the Brazilian footballer was met with boos from fans gathered at the 8,000-seat venue.
Within the audience, chants of "Ronaldo! Ronaldo!" could be heard, referring to Cristiano Ronaldo, who, after transferring to Al-Nassr, has gained immense popularity in Saudi Arabia.
Despite being one of the biggest football stars of the past decade, Neymar, the Brazilian doesn’t enjoy the best reputation among fans in Saudi Arabia.
Neymar booed by fans in Arabia. The Brazilian meets Nadal
During the event, Neymar spoke with Rafael Nadal, who lost 3-6, 3-6 to Carlos Alcaraz in his tournament match. The "6 Kings Slam" gathered top tennis players such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev.
Each participant will receive at least $1.5 (£1.15) million, with the winner set to claim a record $6 (£4.6) million – the highest prize in tennis history.
Rafael Nadal, nearing the end of his career, will still compete in November's Davis Cup, representing Spain. It will be one of his final appearances on the court.
Despite the significant transfer and a three-year contract worth £26 million annually, Neymar has participated in only three league matches for Al-Hilal so far, recording three assists.
His progress was hindered by a serious injury, which required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. He is currently working on returning to full fitness and may soon be back on the pitch.
