Neymar’s career at the top is OVER as ‘he can no longer play at the level we’re used to’, Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus brutally claims after axing star
Neymar’s career looks to be heading toward a sorry end after his Al-Hilal boss claimed he was no longer capable of playing at the top level.
The superstar, now 32, joined the Saudi side in a £78million deal from PSG in the summer of 2023 but has been restricted to just seven appearances.
He is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in November in just his second game back after being ruled out for a year, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty with Brazil.
It has been confirmed that Neymar will not be registered for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season while he continues his rehabilitation and Jesus believes his fitness woes have brought an early end to his time as a world-class player.
Speaking on Thursday, Jesus said: ‘He can no longer play at the level we’re used to.’
Neymar is set to become a free agent at the end of the season with a contract extension unlikely, and Jesus claimed he was in the dark over the forward’s plans.
Neymar’s career at the top is already over, according to his Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus
The forward has been dogged by several crippling injuries, affecting his game time
Jesus has not registered Neymar for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season
Reports have linked him with a move to MLS, potentially as soon as this month.
‘When I created this team it was with Mitrovic and Neymar, before he had this injury that has left him out of the competition for 14 or 15 months,’ Jesus added.
‘Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately. He is still under contract and it may be up to him to decide his future. It depends on the club, on the administration.
‘The only thing I know is that Neymar is not registered. Until January 31 the window is open. So I’m not going to speculate on things I don’t know.’
Neymar has scored just one goal in seven appearances since his move to the Middle East and he was not registered for the first half of the Saudi Pro League campaign.
The former Barcelona man, Brazil’s all-time record goal scorer with 79 goals, harbours no resentment toward Jesus but admitted he is ‘very honest’.
‘If you’re playing poorly, he’ll tell you to your face,’ Neymar told Romario TV. ‘As a coach, he’s really good. He works the team very well.’
According to recent data from French outlet Foot Mercato, Neymar is believed to have been paid a staggering £84.6million in the whole of 2024 despite his injury woes.
Neymar has played just seven games since his big money move to the Middle East in 2023
He spent New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi but could leave this month
But his market value sat at around £12.6m by the end of 2024, according to Transfermarkt, a far cry from the £200m PSG splashed out on him back in 2017.
He had finished 2023 with a value of around £37m, meaning he is the sixth-highest player for transfer value decrease across 2024, as per the site’s data.
Reports emerged in November that Al-Hilal had even considered tearing up his contract, but his agent Pini Zahavi dismissed the rumours.
‘There are no talks ongoing for Neymar to leave Al-Hilal,’ Zahavi said.
‘He’s under contract and very happy there.
‘Neymar’s father and me, we are the only people who can talk about Ney’s future. I don’t know where recent rumours are coming from.’
