Neymar In Talks To Leave Saudi Team Al-Hilal

Brazilian superstar Neymar is in talks to leave Saudi club Al-Hilal, but his financial demands are impeding an agreement, a club source told AFP on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has struggled with injuries in Saudi Arabia, appearing only seven times despite a rumored annual salary of roughly $104 million.

According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “Neymar is discussing his departure with Al-Hilal, but his high financial demands remain a major obstacle.”

Neymar’s deal with the Saudi Pro League club runs until June.

According to reports in Brazil, Santos, the club where Neymar established his name in his now-fading career, is in talks to bring him back to his birthplace, but Al-Hilal prefers a transfer, but Neymar prefers a loan deal.

Neymar, who made the greatest deal in football history when he joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for 220 million euros ($230 million), will join Al-Hilal in August 2023.

He joined fellow superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the lucrative Saudi league.

However, two months after arriving in Riyadh, he damaged a cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, forcing him to sit out for a year.

He then suffered a series of hamstring and knee injuries as he tried to return to action for Al-Hilal.

The club’s coach Jorge Jesus said recently: “He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”

A return to Brazil would likely be the last chance for a player who is his country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 127 matches.

AFP