With his contract with Al-Hilal due to expire on June 30, Neymar Jr has several options for his future, including a rather intriguing one.
A few days ago, Neymar Jr announced excellent news. The 32-year-old footballer is preparing to become a father for the fourth time. He and his partner, Bruna Biancardi, are expecting a daughter in 2025. A year that the Brazilian also hopes will be successful on a sporting and physical level. Since his arrival in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, the former Paris Saint-Germain player has experienced a series of setbacks. Injured during a match with Brazil against Uruguay in October 2023, Ney was sidelined after just five appearances in the Al-Hilal jersey. He returned after more than a year away, only to suffer another setback. To date, he has played just seven matches in all competitions (totaling 428 minutes) since joining the Saudi Pro League.
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In addition, he missed 429 days of competition, which is considerable for a star player bought for 80 million euros and earning 200 million per year. Recently, rumors surrounding Neymar’s future have intensified, especially with the reminder that the Brazil international’s contract will end on June 30. This Tuesday, The Athletic provided an update on this hot topic. The British media, known for its seriousness, contacted Neymar’s entourage. Those close to him have indicated that the player’s top priority is to get back into shape and play football regularly again. They added that no official decision has been made regarding Neymar’s future and that he has no plans to terminate his contract, wanting to see it through this season.
Indeed, Neymar is not in favor of this option, especially since he would be giving up a considerable amount of money, as he still has just over 72 million euros owed. The possibility of participating in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup with Al-Hilal has not been ruled out either. For this, he would have to extend his contract by a few weeks. However, nothing has been finalized on this matter. Additionally, his club did not register him for the Saudi Pro League in the first part of the season due to his injury, and they might be tempted to do the same for the second half of the season, as the The team performed very well without him. If that happens, Ney would only be able to play in the Asian Champions League and Copa del Rey, missing the remaining 21 SPL matches.
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This would also send a strong message from Al-Hilal. According to The Athletic, the likelihood of Ney extending his stay there is virtually non-existent, as they explain that the Saudis will not pay a fortune for a player who is approaching 33 and has suffered a series of injuries. They were also generally disappointed with the return on investment. However, Neymar has other options on the table. The first is a return to Santos. The Brazilian club does not hide its desire to see the prodigal son return, and Ney remains very linked to the club, returning frequently. He still has a house there. Recently, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira was clear on the matter, saying: “We are clear and objective; his father and his staff know that. They know me, and they know Santos. We have to wait, because he has a current contract.”
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The second often-mentioned option is Inter Miami, where several of Ney’s friends, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, play. Recently, Jorge Mas, owner of Inter Miami, commented: “The key word is whether he becomes available. He is an Al-Hilal player. He is not available for us. I always says we aspire to attract great players to our team We have many limits and restrictions regarding our squad, but we have an unlimited budget We are ambitious If we ever have the opportunity to sign a player of Neymar’s caliber. , we will not hesitate.”
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So, the door is not completely closed on the MLS franchise side. Finally, The Athletic mentions a rather unexpected third option. Indeed, Neymar’s return to Brazil could take another form, since nothing excludes him from buying a club, given the fortune he has amassed. It could also receive support from an investment fund. A source close to Ney hinted at this rumor while not denying that this possibility crosses his mind. Like Ronaldo with Cruzeiro, the Brazilian could invest in a club from his native country. It’s an attractive idea for Neymar Jr, who could take on a new role while opening other doors next summer once he is free.
