Neymar has shut down “completely false” transfer talk suggesting that he could leave Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal after just five appearances.

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• Moved to the Middle East in 2023
• Suffered serious knee injury
• Linked with return to roots at Santos

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazil international was another marquee recruit in the Middle East during the summer window of 2023. He opted to tread a similar path to Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema when severing ties with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neymar was expected to dazzle audiences in Riyadh, but suffered an ACL injury when on World Cup qualifying duty with his country in October 2023. He was immediately ruled out for the rest of the season – missing a title triumph for Al-Hilal and Kings Cup of Champions triumph against Ronaldo and Al-Nassr.

• WHAT NEYMAR SAID

  It has been suggested that his lucrative contract could be torn up, as Neymar sees a Lionel Messi reunion at Inter Miami or return to his Santos-based roots speculated on, but the 32-year-old forward has told of those rumours: “What is being said is completely false, there is nothing planned. I still have one year left on my contract with Al-Hilal and I hope I can have a great season. We'll be living things as we go. It's true that Santos is my favourite team and I'd like to come back one day, but I don't have a plan in mind.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Neymar has made no secret of the fact that he intends to head back to Santos at some stage, having started his career on their books. There is, however, still plenty left for him to prove elsewhere, and many doubters to be silenced, before retracing steps to where it all began.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News