Striker could join Santos again
RIYADH: Neymar is no longer a Al-Hilal player after the Brazil star and the Saudi Arabia club have agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Neymar joined the Saudi Arabia club from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023. Back then, the Saudi Pro League team had forked out 90 million euros ($94 million) to bring the Brazil striker to its team.
Day Crespo, a spokeswoman for Neymar in Brazil, told The Associated Press that the player will comment on his future at a later date. Brazilian media has reported that the player and his father are interested in a six-month return to his boyhood club Santos, where he achieved national fame and his first caps for Brazil before he joined Barcelona in 2013. Neymar won six titles at Santos, including the Brazilian Cup in 2010 and the prestigious Copa Libertadores in 2011.
The Brazilian’s stint with the Saudi Arabian club has been topsy-turvy. He picked up an ACL injury, the most serious of his career, while playing for Brazil football team months after joining Al-Hilal.
The 32-year-old played only seven matches for the club, with only one goal and two assists. He has been sidelined since October 2023 due to the injury, but the club won last season’s Saudi league.
A report in The Associated Press stated that Neymar’s deal was due to expire after Al-Hilal’s participation in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played between June 15 and July 13 in United States of America.
In June last year, Neymar was asked about playing for Santos someday while he was on a visit to one of his social projects in Brazil. Back then, Neymar had said: “No (chance to return to Santos). This is a total lie, there’s no plans. I have another year in my contract with Al-Hilal. I hope to play a great season there. I didn’t play the last one. We need to live day to day, there’s a long time ahead. Obviously Santos is the club in my heart, one day I do want to come back. But there’s no plan in my head.”
Agencies