Neymar (31, Paris Saint-Germain) is moving to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the transfer with the words “HERE WE GO” and added: “Neymar is going to Al-Hilal. A big offer was made two days ago and all parties have signed the documents. Neymar will leave for Saudi Arabia this week. It’s a two-year deal and he will wear the number 10 shirt. PSG will receive a transfer fee of just under €100 million. The medical will be completed later today.”
“PSG striker Neymar is undergoing a medical ahead of his move to Al Hilal,” writes David Onstead in the UK’s The Athletic. He will sign a two-year contract with Al Hilal. He played throughout PSG’s pre-season but was not in the club’s plans for the 2023-24 season under new manager Luis Enrique.”온라인바카라
In the US, CBS Sports reported that “Neymar’s move is now close to being finalised. He will join Al Hilal on a two-year deal. Neymar will earn an annual salary of €200 million ($292 million), matching Al Nasr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and PSG will earn €90 million ($131.5 million) in transfer fees.”
Neymar is one of the best technicians in the world. He was a promising striker from an early age, moving straight from Brazilian side Santos to Barcelona to break into the European scene. He went on to form the ‘MSN Line’ with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, racking up countless attacking points. In 186 official appearances, he scored 105 goals and provided 76 assists. With Barcelona, he won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, two Supercopa de España titles, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Super Cup title, and one FIFA Club World Cup title.
Then, in the summer of 2017, the transfer of the century was completed. Neymar donned the PSG shirt for a transfer fee of €222 million. It was an astronomical sum, a world record that has yet to be broken.
Neymar started playing at the Parc des Princes in the 2017-18 season. In six seasons, he has scored 118 goals and provided 77 assists in 173 games. He has won every trophy imaginable in France, with only the UCL trophy missing. They did reach the final in the 2019-20 season, but narrowly missed out, losing 0-1 to Bayern Munich.
Neymar’s contract runs until June 2027. When he signed his new deal in May 2021, it was for a base four-year term with a two-year extension option. The two years were to be triggered in July 2021 and July 2022 for one year each. By today’s standards, he has more than four years left.
And this summer, a move was rumoured. “Neymar is on the Saudi radar,” said CBS Sports in the US. The Saudis are trying to sign the world’s most expensive footballer (all-time transfer fee). A high-level delegation from Saudi Al-Hilal travelled to Paris on Friday to confirm a possible transfer. The personal terms are €200 million a year, similar to Ronaldo’s terms. In addition, the club is ready to pay a transfer fee of €45 million,” the report said.
However, the deal fell through as Neymar had no intention of leaving PSG at the time. Neymar later said in an interview, “I want to play for PSG. I have a contract with the club and no one has said anything to me so far. Even if I am not loved by the fans and players, I will stay at PSG,” he said.
He even considered retiring from the club. In March, The Athletic wrote: “Neymar has stayed at PSG despite transfer rumours. And it looks like it will continue. He wants to retire at PSG. Neymar’s desire is to finish his career with PSG and help them succeed in the UCL, which they have yet to conquer. He has no plans to represent another team.”
But the tide has turned, with PSG trying to force a sale. PSG had wanted to sell Neymar for some time. According to a February report by US firm Deloitte, PSG is the fifth most profitable club in the world. It earned €654 million in one year. But it’s also the only club in the top 20 of the world’s highest-grossing clubs whose squad salaries are higher than its overall revenue. Neymar’s share of that salary is significant. PSG wanted to get rid of the highly paid and injury-prone Neymar, and the local fans were not happy.
And in August, they were furious. “Neymar and Marco Verratti were absent from PSG’s final training session and were not invited to the media day for the official photo shoot,” wrote French journalist Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport. Coach Enrique and president Luis Campos have informed the two players that they will not be with the club this season.”
“Both players have been training indoors. Enrique and Campos told five players – Neymar, Verratti, Henrikh Sanchez, Hugo Ekitiqe and Juan Bernat – that they are not part of PSG and that they must find solutions elsewhere.” It was effectively a release notice.
Neymar wasn’t even included in the squad for the Ligue 1 opener against Lorient. Contrast this with Kylian Mbappe, whose dramatic reconciliation led to a stadium visit and a return to the first team. Neymar eventually agreed to leave PSG. Loic Tansey of French publication L’Equipe said on 11 November: “The position is clear. PSG and Neymar have agreed to find a common solution before the end of the transfer window. It’s just a matter of finding a destination that suits everyone.”
On the 13th, Al Hilal made another move. “Al Hilal made an important offer for Neymar,” Romano said. Sources described it as a ‘huge bead’. Negotiations are ongoing to reach a full agreement and Neymar was tempted by the possibility. Work is underway to part ways with PSG.”
“Neymar and Al Hilal are in advanced talks. We have already delivered official documents to the player’s side. The deal is ongoing and Barcelona can reactivate the contract of João Felix if Neymar does not join them.”
RMC Sport’s Hawkins added: “Neymar is very close to signing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. PSG and Al-Hilal have agreed a huge fee. After six years at PSG, Neymar’s exit is imminent.”
There were other options, including Barcelona and the US Major League Soccer (MLS), but none could compete with Al Hilal’s ‘oil money’. According to CBS Sports, Al Hilal paid PSG a transfer fee of €90 million and promised Neymar a salary package of €200 million. The UK’s Telegraph reported that Neymar would receive a two-year deal totalling £275 million.
No surprise there. Matteo Moretto of Spain’s Relevo also said: “Neymar is going to Saudi Arabia. PSG coach Enrique did not block the transfer. PSG wanted to let Neymar go and the player has been thinking about leaving for the last few weeks. Al-Hilal was the easiest route for everyone. Barcelona made it almost impossible from the start and coach Xavi Hernandez didn’t approve of his return. The plan is for Al Hilal to announce the signing of Neymar between today and tomorrow.”
The Al Hilal deal also included a loan to Barcelona for Neymar, but that didn’t happen either. “A loan to Barcelona is not possible,” Romano said. Neymar will play for Al Hilal,” Romano concluded.