A former Premier League star has now revealed the real reason he chose to go to Saudi Arabia amid criticism of his decision to quit European football.
There is no doubt money has played a significant role in the Middle East country's relative success in luring some big-name players to their top flight, with a raft of new arrivals from European football having been offered seemingly excessive sums of cash to make the switch.
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With the Saudi Pro League ranked the 58th-strongest football division in the world, according to The Athletic, many have suggested that the players who have gone from a top-five league in Europe to the Gulf state are purely motivated by the money they are being offered, while age is also thought to be a factor for some.
Portugal star Ruben Neves was perhaps one of the SPL's surprise signings in recent weeks after he was strongly linked with a move to FC Barcelona before opting to join Al Hilal instead.
The 26-year-old is currently the ninth-most expensive signing of this transfer window after his new club paid Wolverhampton Wanderers a sizeable €55 million (R1.1 billion) to get the deal done.
However, with some questioning his ambitions as a footballer as a result, Neves has now lifted the lid on his shock transfer after spending six years at Molineux.
"To give my family the life I always dreamed of for them, this was, for me, the main reason that made me have no doubts about accepting this proposal," he said in a video interview for Al Hilal.
"I have three children and a wife. Taking care of them is my biggest trophy.
"The project, Al Hilal being the best club in Asia. Since the news started to come, my social media went crazy, it was unbelievable to see the amount of fans Al Hilal have and how passionate they are for football as well so it was a good decision for me and my family, I'm sure."
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Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, recently condemned criticism aimed at current Reds skipper Jordan Henderson after it was reported that he had accepted an offer worth a massive £700 000 (R16.4 million) a week from Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq.
Fowler, who was announced as Saudi second tier side Al Qadsiah's new manager last month, told the Daily Mirror: "I've never quite understood why footballers' wages are such a sensitive topic, while the billions earned by financiers are never questioned.
"Let's get one thing clear, though. I'm not going to condemn Jordan, Steven Gerrard or anyone else who has gone to work in Saudi Arabia, or is thinking of doing so. Not because I'm taking the money too – that's simply not true.
"As I've explained before, I have taken a job in the league below the Saudi Pro League because I am ambitious to become a manager, because I want to prove myself."
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