August 16 – Neymar has officially become the latest superstar player to follow the financial gravy train to the Saudi Pro League after completing a move to Al Hilal for a reported €90 million after six topsy-turvy seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazilian was afforded a fanfare welcome in Paris when he signed from Barcelona for a world-record fee of €222 million but only lived up to expectations intermittently.
His combination with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe failed to deliver Europe’s biggest prize, the Champions League, to PSG’s Qatari owners and he has now left just months after PSG fans protested outside his house, demanding his exit.
Neymar, 31, missed PSG’s season-opening 0-0 draw with Lorient on Saturday after training alone, with the club saying it was because he was recovering from a viral infection.
Al Hilal had previously tried to sign Kylian Mbappe, who turned down a move and has been reinstated into the PSG first team following a bitter impasse with the ownership.
The most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for league and Asian Champions League titles.
They are one of four Saudi clubs effectively nationalised by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund that claims assets of about $700 billion. Neymar’s two-year deal is expected to earn him an annual salary of about $100 million.
“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” said Neymar.
“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment. I have heard a lot and learned that I am following a long list of Brazilian players who have played in Saudi Arabia over the years, so I believe it is the desired place.”
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