Nathan Zézé on Saudi football: ‘The best teams feel like France’
French defender Nathan Zézé has offered a candid assessment of the Roshn Saudi League after spending a season with Neom SC, describing a competition that has challenged some of his expectations. While he believes the league’s leading sides can match the level of French football in individual games, he still considers Ligue 1 stronger overall.
Speaking to French outlet RMC Sport ahead of his second campaign in Saudi Arabia, Zézé reflected on his move from Nantes, the people who helped him settle and the differences he has noticed between the two leagues. His comments provide a player’s perspective on a competition attracting growing international attention—and a useful counterpoint to sweeping claims about its standing in world football.
Why Zézé chose Neom SC
Leaving Nantes was not an easy decision for the young centre-back. He had developed at the French club, and moving away meant stepping into a new football culture and a different kind of competition. Zézé was also open about the financial element of the transfer, acknowledging that it played a part in his choice.
“I won’t deny that,” he said, while making clear that money was not the only consideration. The presence of coach Christophe Galtier helped persuade him to take the opportunity. Zézé also found reassurance in Neom’s group of French-speaking players, including Alexandre Lacazette, Saïd Benrahma, Moussa Koné and Malang Sarr. Their experience and familiarity with the language made it easier for him to adapt both on and off the pitch.
That support mattered as he adjusted to a new country, a new club and different expectations. A move abroad can demand more than tactical flexibility: players must also build routines, communicate with teammates and become comfortable away from familiar surroundings. For Zézé, having established French-speaking figures nearby helped make the transition more manageable.
What a season in Saudi Arabia taught him
Before arriving, Zézé expected the standard of football to be lower than what he had experienced in France. His view became more nuanced after facing the league’s strongest teams. In those matches, he said, the level can feel comparable to a game in the French league.
“When you face the best 10 or 12 teams in the league, you feel you are playing a match in the French league,” Zézé explained. He also praised Saudi players, saying that several have the ability to compete in Europe and that their performances surprised him in a positive way.
His assessment points to an important distinction in discussions about the Saudi Pro League: the quality of its leading clubs may not reflect the depth of the entire competition. Strong teams can produce demanding, high-quality contests, while consistency across every fixture remains a separate measure. For players and supporters weighing up a league, the strength of the top end and the competitiveness of the full season are both relevant.
Zézé’s experience has also changed his own outlook. Rather than describing the move as a temporary compromise, he said he has no regrets. A full season has given him new challenges and exposure to a different football environment, while helping him mature as a player.
Why he still ranks Ligue 1 higher
Despite his praise, Zézé did not agree with Cristiano Ronaldo’s widely discussed suggestion that the Saudi league is superior to France’s top division. His response was direct: he still believes Ligue 1 is stronger overall.
For Zézé, one of the main differences is the intensity that runs through the French competition from round to round. He argued that the pressure and competitiveness are more consistently present in France, even if the gap between the leagues is not as large as some might assume. His view separates the quality of individual Saudi fixtures from the broader week-to-week challenge of a full league campaign.
The atmosphere in stadiums is another factor. Zézé remains struck by the passion surrounding French football and the way supporters can shape the feel of a match. Saudi clubs have attracted major names and growing interest, but the matchday environment can vary from one fixture to another. For a defender, that difference can influence the rhythm and emotional intensity of a game as much as the opposition’s tactical approach.
His comments are not a dismissal of Saudi football. Instead, they offer a measured comparison from someone who has experienced both settings. The league’s leading teams have impressed him, local talent has exceeded his expectations, and the move has proved worthwhile. Yet, in his judgment, France retains the stronger overall competition and the more consistently charged atmosphere.
France Under-21s and the ambitions ahead
Zézé’s progress has continued on the international stage. On 3 October, he wore the captain’s armband for France Under-21s in a 3–2 victory over Luxembourg in qualifying for the 2027 European Under-21 Championship. The responsibility reflects his growing standing and adds another goal to an already demanding season.
He has two clear priorities: help Neom SC finish as high as possible and compete for the Under-21 European Championship with France. At club level, that means turning the promise of strong performances into consistency across the campaign. Internationally, it means building on his leadership role and helping France qualify and challenge for the title.
Although he has moved abroad, Zézé has not lost his connection to Nantes. He says he continues to watch the club’s matches and remains attached to the side where he made his name. That bond also shapes his long-term ambitions: he hopes to return to European football one day and dreams of playing in the Champions League.
A balanced prediction for Zézé’s next chapter
Any prediction about Zézé’s future depends on how he develops at Neom and performs for France’s Under-21s. His first season in Saudi Arabia appears to have broadened his experience without weakening his ambition to compete at the highest European level. If he continues to grow as a defender and leader, a return to Europe could become a realistic objective.
For now, his message is clear: Saudi football has more quality than he expected, especially among its leading clubs, but Ligue 1 remains ahead in overall competitiveness and atmosphere. That balanced verdict makes his story more revealing than a simple endorsement or criticism. Zézé has embraced the challenge, learned from the move and set his sights on helping Neom while keeping Europe—and the Champions League—in view.
