Brazil’s Neymar, Saudi Club Al Hilal Part Ways After Disappointing Spell
Neymar has officially parted ways with Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal by mutual consent, Al Jazeera reports.
The departure comes after a disappointing stint for the Brazilian superstar, marred by injury and limited playing time.
The 32-year-old forward joined Al Hilal in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a reported fee of approximately 90 million euros ($98 million). However, he only managed to make seven appearances for the club before suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. This injury has hampered his return to peak form and has significantly impacted his time with the Saudi club.
Neymar’s exit from Al Hilal marks a notable setback for the club and the Saudi Pro League’s ambitious recruitment strategy. The move was intended to be a major coup, bringing one of the world’s most recognizable players to the league. However, the plan did not pan out as anticipated.
Brazilian media outlets are reporting that Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, is now poised to return to his childhood club, Santos. He previously left Santos in 2013 to join Barcelona, marking the start of his illustrious European career.
Neymar still holds the record for the most expensive football transfer in history, a 222 million euro ($232 million) move from Barcelona to PSG in August 2017.
