Not registered on the Saudi Pro League list by Al-Hilal, Neymar, under contract with the Saudi club until June 2025, is in negotiations with his club for an early departure. Departing this winter, he could bounce back in his training club Santos, Brazil, local media report.
Brazilian star Neymar is in talks with Saudi club Al-Hilal for a departure before the end of his contract in June 2025 but financial disagreements are complicating discussions, an internal source at the club told AFP on Wednesday. According to this anonymous source, “Neymar is discussing a departure with Al-Hilal, but his high financial demands remain a major obstacle.”
The Brazilian press claims that Santos, Neymar's training club and where he began his career, is in negotiations to bring him back. However, Al-Hilal would favor a permanent transfer, while Neymar seems to prefer a loan.
Absent from Saudi lists
Arriving in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer estimated at 100 million euros for two seasons, accompanied by an equivalent salary, Neymar only played seven matches with Al-Hilal, scoring one goal and delivering three assists. His first season was marked by a serious cruciate ligament injury in his left knee suffered in October 2023 during a match with the Brazilian selection against Uruguay.
In January 2024, Al-Hilal removed the 32-year-old top scorer in Brazilian history from its roster for local competitions, replacing him with Brazilian Renan Lodi. This season, Neymar is only registered in the Asian Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
-Jorge Jesus believes he no longer has the level
After recovering from his injury and replaying in the Asian Champions League, Neymar was injured again in November 2024, this time to a thigh, which kept him away from the field for several weeks. He returned to training recently but his coach, Portuguese Jorge Jesus, expressed doubts about his physical fitness.
In an interview with the Brazilian platform Globo, he said: “after a 15-month injury, anywhere in the world, it is difficult for a player to get back to his best level. Neymar remains an exceptional player, but physically, He’s not ready for the championship.”
Despite Neymar's prolonged absence, Al-Hilal shone last season, winning a domestic treble and remaining unbeaten in the league with 34 consecutive victories, an all-time record. The potential departure of Neymar opens the door to the recruitment of a new star for the Riyadh club.
