Ruben Neves, the midfielder with 46 Portugal caps to his name, has set the record straight about Arsenal‘s transfer interest.

The 27-year-old, renowned for his precision passing and long-range strikes, confirmed the Gunners’ pursuit before his move to Al-Hilal.

Neves’ transfer saga

“I was close to three clubs and it ended up not happening, which saddened me and helped me make the decision to go to Al Hilal. I didn’t want to mention names,” Neves told O Jogo, via Sport Witness, before going on to name two of the three.

“Barcelona was one of the hottest and it wasn’t a lie. It was close to happening, just like with Arsenal,” Neves said to O Jogo.

Before his surprise move to Saudi Arabia last summer for €55m, Neves was a hot commodity across Europe, his impressive tenure with Wolves attracting heavyweights like Arsenal, Barcelona, and Liverpool.

Future ambitions

Despite the missed opportunity to don the Arsenal shirt, Neves remains confident in his abilities and isn’t ruling out a return to a top European club: “That’s for sure. Playing in Arabia doesn’t make me feel any different from my colleagues in Europe. My fitness is fine. I’m well on the way to one day being able to return to Europe and play at the highest level.”

Though currently valued at €40 million, Neves’ age may be a consideration for potential suitors when his Al-Hilal contract expires in 2026. He’ll be close to 29, raising questions about his long-term fit for Europe’s elite teams.

Saudi Arabia’s rising influence

Neves’ move to Al-Hilal underscored the growing financial power of Saudi Arabian clubs. Their ability to offer lucrative deals is proving increasingly enticing for high-profile players.

“If we go down this road, Arabia could have one of the most important leagues in the world within two years. There’s no secret: the quality of the players arriving is extremely high,” Neves said.