Neymar’s time in Saudi Arabia has so far bordered on disaster, but there is one player for whom things look to be going even worse, as they make way for the Brazilian to be registered in Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad.
Amid a raft of European stars joining the emerging division in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s landmark arrival, Neymar’s was perhaps the name that stuck out most after leaving PSG in 2023.
Previously considered by many to be a player who only Lionel Messi and Ronaldo could claim to be better than, to be joining the Saudi Pro League at just 31 was a decision that surprised many.
His first season, though, was over almost as soon as it started after the magician fell to a devastating knee injury in October 2023 after just five games for his club.
He made his return in October this year, but suffered another injury setback in early November, which had led to reports that he may be released from his £130million-a-year deal at Al-Hilal in January.
Yet the fact that he has now been re-registered at the club – at the expense of former Chelsea flop Kalidou Koulibaly – would seemingly suggest he has a future at Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal have re-registered Neymar to their Saudi Pro League squad at the expense of a former Chelsea star
Kalidou Koulibaly (No 26) has been removed from the squad and is set to have his contract terminated or be sent on loan
Neymar has played just seven times since joining Al-Hilal after a knee injury suffered last season
While there is still plenty of uncertainty over the future of Neymar, Al-Hilal have already reportedly come to the decision that they will be terminating Koulibaly’s contract or loan him out until the end of 2026.
It marks another stage in the downfall of a player who was previously considered among the very best in Europe.
Koulibaly earned widespread plaudits for his tenure at Napoli, where he quickly became one of the southern Italian side’s most important players before a big-money move to Chelsea in 2022 for £34m.
Yet after a disappointing tenure in west London, the Senegalese international was sold to Al-Hilal the following summer, where he has failed to return to the form that saw him become a leading star.
For Neymar, though, it represents a chance to finally get going with the Saudi side, for whom he has played only played seven games in over a year, and prove himself deserving of a new contract.
Al-Hilal have performed well without Neymar, with the club winning the Saudi Pro League title last season, and are locked in what looks to be a two-horse race for the crown this term.
With 10 wins, a draw and a loss after 12 games they trail Al-Ittihad – of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante fame – by two points, with Aleksandar Mitrovic their top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions.
Al-Hilal have also won the Super Cup and are involved in both the Asian Champions League and Kings Cup competitions, and will have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the campaign.
