Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar has reportedly granted permission for a high-profile summer transfer to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal. The talented attacker formed a formidable trio with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe last season, but an unfortunate ankle injury prematurely ended his campaign.
Initially, Neymar was considered the least likely member of the trio to leave, as Messi joined Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. However, the spotlight has shifted to Mbappe’s future, especially after the Frenchman initially declined to extend his contract beyond 2024, fueling rumors of a potential summer sale.
Nevertheless, with Mbappe back in first-team training and showing openness towards extending his stay, it could pave the way for Neymar to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
Speculation regarding a move to Saudi Arabia has gained momentum recently. L’Equipe, via The Mirror, reports that Neymar has now agreed to join Al-Hilal. The former Barcelona player is expected to sign a two-year contract, valued at an astonishing £150m per year. However, negotiations between Al-Hilal and PSG have yet to finalize the transfer fee.
PSG, who broke the world-record transfer fee by splashing out £198m to secure Neymar’s services in 2017, is willing to accept a substantial economic loss. A fee in the region of £70m may be sufficient to facilitate the move.
Previously, Neymar’s father played down the possibility of his son leaving Parc des Princes during the summer. However, the forward’s absence from PSG’s opening Ligue 1 match against Lorient, along with several other unwanted players, suggests an imminent departure.
During his time in Paris, Neymar has been directly involved in 195 goals across 173 appearances in all competitions. His contributions include 118 goals and 77 assists. While he has won five Ligue 1 titles with PSG, he has yet to help the club clinch its first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy. Additionally, injuries have plagued him, causing him to miss a significant number of matches.
In the 2022-23 season, Neymar managed 18 goals and 17 assists in his first 29 games before a season-ending ankle injury in February halted his impressive form.
In preparation for Neymar’s anticipated departure, PSG has bolstered their attacking options by acquiring Goncalo Ramos, Marco Asensio, and Lee Kang-in, all of whom featured in the match against Lorient. The club also exercised a £6m buyback clause to reclaim Xavi Simons from PSV Eindhoven before loaning him to RB Leipzig.
There are ongoing negotiations to secure Lyon starlet Bradley Barcola, while Mauro Icardi has permanently left for Galatasaray. Furthermore, Hugo Ekitike may also depart before the transfer window closes, as he has been assigned to train with the “undesirables” by new head coach Luis Enrique.
PSG aims to secure their first Ligue 1 victory of the season in their upcoming match against Toulouse next Saturday.