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HomeSportsFootballNeymar relishes 'new challenge' amid move from PSG to Saudi Al Hilal

Neymar relishes ‘new challenge’ amid move from PSG to Saudi Al Hilal

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Less than 48 hours after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Kylian Mbappe was reinstated to the French club’s first team, his teammate and Brazilian striker Neymar bid farewell to the team and joined Saudi club Al Hilal, as That he is. Happy to accept “new challenges and opportunities in new places”.

The 31-year-old ends his six-year stay in Paris and follows in the footsteps of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, Frenchman Karim Benzema and Senegal’s Sadio Mane to join the Middle East.

Neymar said in a statement to the Saudi Pro League: “I have achieved a lot and enjoyed a special time in Europe, but I have always wanted to be a global player and find myself in new places with new challenges and opportunities. I want to try it.”

“I want to write a new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League currently has great energy and quality players,” his statement read.

“Al Hilal is a big club with great fans, and it’s the best club in Asia. It makes me realize that it’s the right decision for me at the right time with the right club. I love to win and score goals, and I I intend to continue it with Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal.”

Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($242 million), just weeks before they signed Finnish forward Kylian Mbappe.

The Brazilian forward scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for PSG, winning five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups, but his time at PSG was marred by a catalog of injuries.

Although he helped the club to the 2020 Champions League final, which they lost 1–0 to Bayern Munich, he was ruled out of important games.

Neymar underwent surgery on his right ankle in early March, only returning to join PSG on their pre-season tour of Asia.

However, he was no longer in the plans of new coach Luis Enrique and was immediately linked with a move to Al Hilal, where he will earn 100 million euros a season, reports AFP.

The report cites sources as saying that PSG will not come close to recouping the fee paid for Neymar but will still pocket around €100 million.

“It is always difficult to say goodbye to a great player like Neymar, one of the best in the world,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khalifa said in a statement on behalf of the French champions.

“I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, and what he has contributed to our club and our project over the last six years. We had a great moment and Neymar will always be a big part of our history. Will stay.”

Al Hilal has traditionally been one of Saudi Arabia’s top clubs and has been crowned the Asian Champions League winner on four occasions.

They are one of four clubs – along with Al-Nasser, Al-Ahly and Al-Ittihad – owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Neymar’s departure from PSG follows that of Lionel Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami in America.
French media reported that Mbappe made Neymar’s departure one of the necessary conditions to sign a new contract in 2022 after the former was strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

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