Neymar Jr., the Brazilian superstar, moved to Saudi Arabia in August last year to join Al-Hilal. The club was expecting success after his prospective transfer. But he was sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining a devastating ACL injury in only one month of his spell.
Alongside the club’s season, the former Barcelona star’s recovery following ACL surgery will likely keep him out of the upcoming Copa America 2024. During his time away from the pitch, another round of speculation arose when one of his pictures with a fan sparked new public scrutiny.
Neymar Jr posing with fan holding Inter Miami jersey sparks transfer speculations
Recently, the Brazilian icon posed for a picture with a fan holding Lionel Messi’s MLS side Inter Miami jersey, fueling rumors about his potential collaboration with former teammate Luis Suarez and Messi at the DRV PNK Stadium. Moreover, earlier this month, reports emerged that Al-Hilal is exploring options for a potential Neymar replacement.
Neymar Jr. is acclaimed as one of the technically elite players, despite encountering setbacks in his career due to his injury-prone status. A similar tale unfolded in the Middle East, as he managed only five appearances for the Saudi Pro League outfit across all competitions before succumbing to an injury while representing Brazil on international duty.
The 31-year-old has recently faced harsh criticism from his Al-Hilal boss amid his injury absence. Jorge Jesus compared his dedication to that of Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived around the same time and has made an unparalleled impact at his club Al-Nassr and on the league.
He said, “Cristiano Ronaldo has more passion for soccer and, therefore, puts it as a priority, Neymar has more passion for other things and puts those other things, which is his private life, ahead. But as a player he is fabulous. And as a man I spent a month and a half with him, he surprised me positively in everything.”
What is the current Al Hilal contract for Neymar Jr?
Al-Hilal, the Riyadh-based club, spent a substantial amount, about approximately $100 million, to secure Neymar Jr. from French giants PSG in the summer of last year, August. The Brazilian international agreed to a lucrative two-year contract that will see him earn over $300 million, including bonus revenue, until 2025.
The forward will receive an annual paycheck of $100 million in his current contract in Saudi Arabia, earning $2 million weekly. This amount is significantly higher than what he used to be paid with Ligue 1 champions PSG.
Neymar Jr.’s transfer was marked as the most expensive in the Saudi Pro League’s history, making him the highest-paid player in the league, surpassing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Interestingly, his move to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 was also a record-breaking deal, amounting to $200 million.
