Media reports have revealed that Brazilian football star Neymar da Silva is in negotiations with the management of Saudi club Al Hilal to leave the team before his contract expires at the end of June.
The all-time leading scorer for Brazil’s national team and the world’s most expensive player joined Al Hilal in August 2023 from French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The deal was for two seasons, valued at around $98.6 million in 2023, and earns an annual salary of around $100 million.
According to beIN Sports, citing an anonymous source, the Saudi club does not oppose Neymar’s departure, with financial details being the main obstacle delaying the move.
The source stated: “Neymar prefers leaving on loan, while the club is pushing for a permanent exit to prepare for signing another top-tier star.”
They also noted that Neymar is demanding a significant amount of his financial dues, although the exact figure has not been disclosed.
Neymar, a former UEFA Champions League winner with Barcelona, has played just seven matches for Al Hilal, scoring one goal and providing three assists. His appearances were cut short after he sustained a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
Al Hilal removed Neymar from their domestic squad list in January 2024, replacing him with fellow Brazilian Renan Lodi.
Meanwhile, Brazilian media outlets have reported that Santos, one of Brazil’s most popular clubs and where Neymar first rose to fame, is negotiating with the player to bring him back to his former team.
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