Paris Saint Germain and Brazilian star Neymar is on the verge of a shock switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, becoming the latest high profile name to head to the middle east this summer.
The 31-year-old was one of several players left out of PSG’s Ligue 1 opener against lowly Lorient, which ended goalless. It comes after Neymar was told that he was no longer in PSG’s plans for the upcoming season, with the Brazilian set to follow former teammate Lionel Messi out of the exit door at the Parc des Princes this summer.
Though he is thought to favour a move to Barcelona this summer, reports in Spain claim that Xavi has doubts over his influence on the dressing room, while agreeing a deal with PSG could also be difficult with the French champions looking to recoup around 60m euros for the Brazilian.
Instead, a move to Saudi Arabia is on the cards. As per Fabrizio Romano, Al-Hilal have tabled a “huge bid” as they look to recover from missing out on Lionel Messi earlier in the summer.
It is added that Neymar is ‘tempted by this possibility’ and that ‘talks are very advanced’ over a move to the middle east. Still just 31-years-old, the Brazil captain would be the most-high profile capture of the division so far this summer, and would join a side that have already signed Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcolm.
They lost the Arab Club Champions Cup to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Saturday, and the arrival of Neymar would go a long way towards fostering a longer term rivalry between two of the Pro League’s biggest clubs.
