Neymar’s return to Santos in January was still a long way off. This Monday (02/12), Al-Hilal, the striker’s club, made an important decision regarding the player’s future.
Currently 32 years old, Neymar is Peixe’s target for 2025, the year in which the club returns to Series A of the Brazilian Championship.
What will be Neymar’s future?
According to the Spanish newspaper “Marca”, Al-Hilal decided to register Neymar in the Saudi Championship in the window that opens in January. He was off the list due to the serious injury to his left knee suffered in October 2023.
Coach Jorge Jesus considered not signing up Neymar due to the limit of foreigners for each squad. But the club decided that the Senegalese defender Koulibaly is going to leave. Between Neymar and Koulibaly, the defender had chances and didn’t do well. The Brazilian can still have better days.
Neymar was only registered for the club in the Asian Champions League. Now, with a full calendar, the striker must fulfill his contract with Al-Hilal until the end, on June 30, 2025. In January, however, he will be able to sign a pre-contract with another club – and Al-Hilal has no desire to try to extend the contract.
The Saudi Championship allows up to ten foreign players per team, but with restrictions. Two of these athletes must be born after 2003. Only Marcos Leonardo is under 21 and falls under the rule. Per match, Al-Hilal can only list eight foreigners.
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Are Neymar and Santos negotiating?
Santos was awaiting a decision from Al-Hilal to make the offer official, in the event of an amicable termination between the striker and the Saudi club. The president of Peixe, Marcelo Teixeira, has already admitted that he had a recent meeting with Neymar’s father. The statement was given on November 26th.
Neymar is being treated for an injury to his left thigh and will no longer play for Al-Hilal this year. The panorama generated dissatisfaction among Arab managers, who question the player’s value for money: he has only played seven games for the club, with one goal and two assists.
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Neymar’s numbers at Santos
- Neymar played for Santos in the following seasons: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013;
- Matches: 225
- Goals: 136
All Neymar titles for Santos
- Paulista Championship (3x)
- Copa Libertadores
- South American Cup
- Brazilian Cup
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What is Neymar’s salary and how much does he earn per season?
According to the website “Uol”, Neymar’s salary exceeds R$83 million per month at the Saudi club. Per season, the amount reaches 160 million euros (around R$1 billion at current prices).
Al-Hilal paid a sum of around 90 million euros to take Neymar from PSG. At the current price, this number is close to R$540 million.
