Neymar insists he “gave everything to play” for Al-Hilal despite having his contract with the Saudi Arabian club terminated after just seven games.
The Brazil forward joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £77million and agreed a reported salary of £129m a year.
However, a knee injury sustained playing for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay just two months into his Saudi career saw him sidelined for a lengthy period.
He returned in November but struggled to make an impact and his deal was ended by mutual consent late last night.
Full club statement 🔹 pic.twitter.com/oxOrPUereF
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) January 27, 2025
The 32-year-old is widely expected to return to boyhood club Santos in his native Brazil. Neymar made over 150 appearances for Santos before joining Barcelona in 2013.
In a farewell message to the Al-Hilal fans, Neymar wrote on X: “To everyone at Al-Hilal, to the fans, thank you!!
“I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together…
“To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences. I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life.
“I always felt your love and passion for the game. I will be following your journey ahead as a club and a country towards 2034.
“Your future will be incredible, special things are happening. And I will always support you!!!”
To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, Thank you !!
I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together ..
To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences
I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life
I always… pic.twitter.com/NgeoUjZk1D— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) January 28, 2025
