Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada spoke out on Thursday against Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman’s dismissal of the Saudi Pro League’s quality after Koeman chose not to select winger Steven Bergwijn due to his recent move to Al Ittihad. Bergwijn, who joined the Saudi club from Ajax Amsterdam last month, was effectively ruled out of international consideration by Koeman.
Calzada, a former Manchester City executive, argued that Koeman undervalued the Saudi top-flight, which has significantly invested in attracting top talent from Europe in recent years, thanks in part to the country’s Public Investment Fund. “As someone who lives in the country and values the quality of the product we put out there, I found those statements unfair,” Calzada said at The Summit, a gathering of sporting executives in London.
He pointed out that many players who have joined the Saudi league continue to receive national team call-ups. For instance, Aymeric Laporte has played for Spain as a European champion after moving to Saudi Arabia. Other notable players, such as Ruben Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo, also remain active on the international stage.
Calzada attributed Koeman’s comments to a lack of awareness about the league’s value and quality, highlighting that the facilities and match standards are on par with European expectations. “I’m just so sorry for the Dutch players, because it’s clearly an exception,” he remarked.
Additionally, Calzada expressed hope that Al Hilal’s marquee €90 million signing, Neymar, would soon return to action after nearly a year out due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a World Cup 2026 qualifier. He noted that Neymar has been training regularly with teammates but is not registered to play in the Saudi Pro League. However, he is eligible for the Asian Champions League, where Al Hilal currently leads Group B with six points from two matches. The team will face Al Ain in the competition on Monday.
