Gigantic offer from Al-Hilal
Media: Neymar also succumbs to Saudi madness
08/13/2023 10:31 p.m
The sporting future of Brazilian star player Neymar continues to be discussed. Is the 31-year-old following a call from Saudi Arabia? Several media unanimously report that the Brazilian is about to move to the Al-Hilal club.
Brazilian soccer star Neymar is reportedly about to join Saudi club Al-Hilal. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote on the online platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that negotiations between the two sides were ongoing. The club have already signed Brazilian Malcom (€60m) and Portuguese Ruben Neves (€55m) this summer. However, he was rebuffed with a monster offer from Neymar’s club colleague Kylian Mbappé.
Neymar, who is currently under contract with top club Paris Saint-Germain, is tempted by the offer. The talks are in the final stages. French media also reported that the 31-year-old could leave PSG soon. “L’Équipe” reported that the player had agreed. According to the broadcaster RMC, there is an agreement between the clubs. Only the final yes of the player is still pending. “L’Équipe” wrote without citing sources that it was about a two-year contract. Neymar should receive 160 million euros for the two seasons.
Thanks to the ludicrous multi-million investments, including via a sovereign wealth fund, numerous prominent footballers have been lured to Saudi Arabia – most of them are over 30 years old. Biggest names: Cristiano Ronaldo (38), Sadio Mane (32/both Al-Nassr), Karim Benzema (35), N’Golo Kante (32/both Al-Ittihad), Jordan Henderson (33/Al-Ettifaq), Riyad Mahrez (32/Al-Ahli). The coaching benches are also filled with top-class players, including Steven Gerrard (Al-Ettifaq), Jorge Jesus (Al-Hilal) and Slaven Bilic (Al-Fateh).
Star decline at PSG?
A few days ago there had already been reports that Paris St. Germain was planning for the coming season without Neymar. Neymar’s father had only denied a possible departure of the son on Tuesday. “I can’t confirm any news that doesn’t exist,” Neymar da Silva Santos told Premier League Brasil.
“L’Équipe” had previously reported that the attacking star had already addressed a change request to the top French club. The father then spoke up and described the report as “fake news”. Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017. The transfer fee at the time was a record 222 million euros. If the Brazilian were to switch, he would be the second attacking star to leave the club after Lionel Messi. In addition, Kylian Mbappé’s situation is still unclear.
Surprising turnaround at Mbappé?
After the transfer quarrels between the star player and his club, the striker is now back in team training. After “very constructive and positive discussions” between the two sides, the 24-year-old French international returned to team training on Sunday, PSG said.
Mbappé’s future seems to be more open again. French media reported Mbappé will not leave PSG this summer. The newspaper “Le Parisien” wrote without naming a source that the star player was no longer closed to a possible contract extension with the French capital club. The broadcaster RMC wrote that everything remains possible in the transfer dispute.