Neymar made history with his move to Al-Hilal, and it was one of the most talked-about transfers in recent football history.
When the Saudi Pro League club splashed out to bring the Brazilian superstar from PSG, it marked a significant moment in the sport.
Neymar became the most expensive player in the league’s history. He signed a lucrative two-year contract that made him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. His weekly earnings of approximately $3.5 million underscored the immense financial investment Al-Hilal made to secure his services.
However, the 32-year-old’s time in Saudi Arabia has been far from the fairy tale many had envisioned.
The Brazilian forward managed to play only five matches for the Saudi club before suffering a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
It not only ruled him out for the rest of the season but also led to his deregistration from the squad. Thus, Al-Hilal had to fill his spot with another player to meet their foreign player quota.
Their squad is brimming with international talent, with stars like Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Malcom on the roster.
The Saudi Pro League enforces a strict rule limiting teams to only eight foreign players; a regulation that has now become a significant hurdle for Neymar’s return to action.
The club’s recent acquisition of Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo from Manchester City has exacerbated the situation.
Cancelo’s arrival pushed the number of foreign players in the squad to nine, one more than the league allows.
This development means that unless a current foreign player is sold or loaned out, Neymar will remain unregistered; effectively sidelining him until at least 2025.
Unexpected delay in Neymar’s return?
Despite his injury, the Brazilian star has been making significant strides in his recovery.
Al-Hilal…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/neymar-cant-play-for-al-hilal-until-2025-despite-injury-recovery/
Author : Martina Alcheva
Publish date : 2024-08-31 16:55:45
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