Neymar’s new Al Hilal boss had scathing advice for Brazilian just four years ago

Neymar's soon-to-be manager at Al-Hilal has had a thing or two to say about him in the past, and most of it isn't positive.

The Brazilian superstar is on the verge of completing an £80million move from PSG to the Saudi Pro League club after becoming disillusioned with life at the Parc des Princes.

Al-Hilal, who have signed the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves and Neymar's international team-mate Malcolm this summer, added outspoken Portuguese head coach Jorge Jesus (who actually managed the club for a few months back in the 2018/19 season) to their list of arrivals last month.

Four years ago, Jesus insisted Neymar wasn't on Cristiano Ronaldo's level and encouraged the ex-Barcelona forward to raise his on-field IQ.

READ MORE: Neymar 'reaches agreement' to join Saudi Pro League and earn staggering new wage

"For me, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best," he told Globo Esporte. "I don't have any doubts about that. He doesn't score 10 or 20 goals but 30, 40 or 50.

"He doesn't need to be as 'artistic' as [Lionel] Messi. Everyone needs to look at Ronaldo. Not just for his quality but for how he is as a professional, how he reached the level he's at. It should be a lesson to any child who wants to play football.

"[Neymar] needs to change the way he thinks or he won't get to that level. If what you have away from the game is more important than perfecting your own play, you'll never become the best. That's what Ronaldo has, the passion [to succeed]. That's the difference."

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Jesus, who has previously managed the likes of Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Fenerbahce, is one of the longest-serving managers in European football, having been in the dugout since 1990.

He's won three Portuguese league titles, all with Benfica, and led Al-Hilal to glory in the Saudi Super Cup in 2018. He also won the Copa Liberatores (South America's version of the Champions League) in 2019 while in charge of Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

Neymar, who is set to sign a two-year deal at Al-Hilal worth £138m, leaves PSG after scoring 118 goals in 173 matches and helping the club land 13 major honours including five Ligue 1 titles. Though the Champions League remains a very notable blot on his, and PSG's, record.

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