Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have terminated Neymar Jr‘s contract after he made only seven appearances during a disappointing injury-plagued short spell in Saudi. The stage is now set for a dramatic return to his boyhood club, Santos.
Neymar was once deemed to surpass the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, and other Brazilian icons who have left their mark on the football world. The 32-year-old was also part of the most devastating attacks ever to grace football, the MSN (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar). The Brazilian won everything with Barcelona when he was part of that front three, including a treble. The Brazillian‘s outstanding performances and extraordinary potential to be a football great led to his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. This is where he became the most expensive player in the sport’s history with a fee of €222 million (£186 million/$232 million).
His stint at PSG, however, was successful but not how everyone perceived him to be. Despite flashes of brilliance, Neymar couldn’t help with what he was brought to do. He could not help the French outfit win what they desired the most: the UEFA Champions League title. In the later stages of his PSG career, he failed to consistently stay fit and perform at the highest level, dealing with persistent ankle injuries that did him no good.
The winger’s Al Hilal stint was no different but way worse than expected. Despite having one of the biggest salaries in the league, he barely made seven appearances due to injuries, including an anterior cruciate ligament tear. This caused him to miss almost an entire year of football. Neymar returned to action in October 2024, only to find himself again in the middle of fitness issues with a hamstring injury. Al-Hilal took the most obvious step and released the Brazilian. The club confirmed this in an official statement.
ESPN reports that Neymar is set to sign a six-month contract with his boyhood club, Santos. If everything goes as planned, the contract will have an option to extend for an extra year.
It is also reported that the 32-year-old gave up $65M of his remaining salary at Al Hilal to return to his childhood club. Once the imminent move is officially announced, it will be an emotional rollercoaster for both Neymar and the Santos fans.
Santos will be the ideal place for the soon-to-be 33-year-old Neymar to rebuild his fitness and much-needed playing time. The Brazilian is looking for consistent game time ahead of the World Cup 2026 next summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. All football fans across the world are eager to see the Santos reunion. For more fearless sports coverage, visit Stadium Rant.
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