After Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Lionel Messi in Saudi Arabia? It’s no. The 35-year-old Argentinian superstar chose Miami over the opportunity to join Al-Hilal, despite a record offer (€500m/year?). The leaders of the Riyadh club obviously did not take long to find a new target. According to CBS, Neymar Jr is in the sights of the team with 18 championship titles. There is talk of a proposal that would allow the 31-year-old Brazilian to feel around €200m a year, more or less the same as Ronaldo, and a transfer fee of around €45m . Remember that “Ney” is under contract until 2027 at Paris-SG.
Contradictory information circulates about the intentions of the former Barcelonan for his future, while the Parisian leaders would be inclined to open the door to him this summer. Which was already the case in 2022… CBS claims that Neymar has been offered to several European clubs, without much success so far, and that any Saudi approaches would be viewed favorably by the Factory… Still according to the same source, representatives of Al-Hilal traveled to Paris to try to convince the player, who was in Miami recently.
One thing is certain: the appetite of Saudi Arabia, and of the four clubs that have come under the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Al-Ahli, Al-Itthiad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, seems limitless. Which Fund is already in charge of Newcastle. Besides Ronaldo and Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Sadio Mané (Bayern), Alexis Sanchez (OM) or even Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) are announced in the sights of clubs in the country of “MBS”. Regarding Kanté, the case even seemed almost settled, but the injuries of the 32-year-old world champion give food for thought on the side of Jeddah, where Benzema has signed up for three seasons, with a wild welcome in front of more than 60,000 delirious fans a few days ago.
In the meantime, RMC confirms Al-Hilal’s interest in Neymar, adding however that the former Santos nugget “intends to stay in Europe. Unless the pressing of Saudi Arabia makes him change his mind. Out since last February due to a new ankle injury, and operated on afterwards, Neymar Jr ended the 2022-23 season, his sixth at PSG, with 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 games. In total, the native of Mogi das Cruzes has scored 118 goals and delivered 77 assists in 173 matches since his transfer to 222 M€, the most expensive in the history of football, in 2017.
