A year after his serious knee injury, Neymar, if he resumed with Al-Hilal in the Asian Champions League, should no longer play in the Saudi Pro League. The Brazilian star, record transfer to Saudi Arabia after being bought for 90 million euros from PSG in August 2023, is not one of the eight foreign players registered by his club to play in the Saudi championship. He is in seven matches in all competitions (for one goal scored) and should soon leave the club.
After this resounding flop in Saudi Arabia, his annual salary being announced at 100 million euros (!), the 32-year-old “Ney” is going to make quite a return to Santos! According to Brazilian journalist César Luis Merlo, Auriverde is awaiting the termination of his contract with Al-Hilal with the aim of signing for his training club! A return to Brazil which could perhaps allow him to regain his selection for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Neymar back home
A native of Mogi das Cruzes, east of Sao Paulo, Neymar joined the youth teams of Santos, in the south of the metropolis, and became an incredible young phenomenon at the time. He played 225 matches and scored 136 goals from 2009 to 2013 with the Pelé club and won the Copa Libertadores in 2011 against Peñarol, being his team’s first scorer in the final. His $8 million villa in Mangaratiba is not located in the state of Sao Paulo, but near Rio de Janeiro, a six-hour drive away.
Exceptional on the left wing of Barça from 2013 to 2017, for two Spanish championship titles and a Champions League (2015) to boot, Neymar then wasted his career by joining PSG. His rare XXL performances were not enough. He also narrowly missed getting the Seleçao to the finals of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups… His serious foot injuries and lifestyle made him unfit for very high-level football in his thirties. He will try to become a prophet again in his country.
