Top 7 Stars Who Left Europe Too Early As Ruben Neves Nears Al Hilal Switch

• Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal and Wolves have agreed a £47m move for Ruben Neves
• The Portuguese midfielder departs Europe to the Middle East at just 26 years of age
• He was tipped for a move to top European clubs, including Barcelona, before the news broke

Wolves captain, Ruben Neves is only an official announcement away from completing a mega switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

The two clubs agreed to a £47m transfer for a player with just a year left on his contract.

At 26 years of age, fans have questioned the move, but it is not the first strange move of his career. He left Porto to join Wolves in the Championship after becoming the youngest captain in the Champions League.

Sports Brief looks at seven other players, including Oscar, who may have left European leagues too early.

1. Oscar

The biggest of them all, Brazilian playmaker Oscar left Chelsea in 2016 and moved to Shanghai Port for £52m. At 24, the move was seen as dead, but he admitted to The Guardian that the move was for the money, as he thought about his family more than his career.

A list of players who played for Inter Milan and AC Milan

Football

2. Axel Witsel

The Belgian midfield powerhouse left Zenith St. Petersburg to join Tianjin Quanjian at 27, when top European clubs were queuing for him. He returned to Europe and after a year-and-half with Borussia Dortmund, is now at Atletico Madrid.

3. Yannick Carrasco

Another Belgian who left Europe too early, Carrasco scored in the 2014 Champions League final before heading to Dalian Yifang at age 24. He returned to Atletico Madrid after two years which he described as 'vital lessons', as reported by Planet Football.

4. Alexandre Pato

Pato was considered the best teenager in the world at one point. He had an injury-ladened career, but his decision to move to Tianjin Quinjan six months after joining Villarreal ended all hopes of rejuvenating his career.

5. Stephan El Shaarawy

One of the most exciting wingers in Europe, El Shaarawy played for AC Milan and Roma. He left for Shanghai Shenhua in 2019. He returned to Roma in 2019 after scoring just a goal in two years. He is close to extending his Roma deal until 2025.

Meet the top 4 African stars who played for Eintracht Frankfurt

Football

6. Ramires

Another Brazilian on the list, he was one of Chelsea’s best midfielders and scored a famous chip against Barcelona in the Champions League. He moved to Jiangsu Suning in 2016 at just 28 years old.

7. Hulk

He is one of the many Brazilian stars fans were dying to see in Europe’s top five leagues and was linked with a move to Chelsea. He moved to Shanghai SIPG in 2016 and is now back in his homeland with Atletico Mineiro.

Six Saudi-linked Chelsea stars

Sports Brief reported on six Chelsea stars linked with Saudi Arabia moves amidst a summer mass exodus at the London club.

The Blues want to downsize their bloated first team, which comprises over 30 players. Top Pro League sides are interested in some, including Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, and Kalidou Koulibaly.