Brazilian football superstar Neymar is reportedly nearing an exit from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal after a turbulent stint marked by injury issues and limited playing time.
The 32-year-old forward, who joined the club in a high-profile £78 million deal from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, has struggled to make an impact on the field.
Neymar has been restricted to just seven appearances since his arrival, largely due to a series of injuries, including a hamstring injury suffered in November 2023.
Neymar’s challenges began earlier in the year when he suffered a significant knee injury while on international duty with Brazil, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.
This kept him sidelined for nearly a year, and his comeback has been marred by further setbacks.
Now, with the second half of the Saudi Pro League season approaching, it has been confirmed that Neymar will not be registered to play, signaling the end of his time at Al-Hilal.
The club’s manager, Jorge Jesus, recently acknowledged that Neymar, once one of the top players in world football, is struggling to regain his former level of performance due to the ongoing effects of his injuries.
“Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately,” said Jesus, referencing Neymar’s inability to fully recover and return to peak form.
With Neymar’s future at Al-Hilal uncertain, reports suggest that the Brazilian star is set for a return to his home country. Santos, the club where Neymar began his career, has made a formal loan proposal for the forward.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Santos is ahead of other potential suitors, such as Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, in the race to bring Neymar back to Brazil.
Neymar would no doubt receive a hero’s welcome at Santos, where he rose to prominence before moving to Europe, scoring 107 goals in 177 appearances.
His return would mark a full-circle moment in his illustrious career. Neymar is set to become a free agent at the end of the current season, and while Santos is eager to bring him back, the move hinges on Al-Hilal’s approval.