Al-Hilal has reportedly removed Brazilian superstar Neymar from their squad for the remainder of the season.
Last summer, Neymar joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League, becoming Al-Hilal’s star acquisition for £78 million.
However, he only made five appearances for the club before suffering a major knee injury while on international duty with Brazil, which is set to sideline him for the remainder of the season.
After signing Brazilian fullback Renan Lodi earlier this week, Al-Hilal faced a difficult decision because they did not have enough room in their squad to acquire another foreign player.
According to Spanish daily Sport, the club has chosen to withdraw Neymar from the squad for the rest of the season in order to add Renan Lodi to the squad.
The 31-year-old has suffered from fitness concerns in previous seasons, missing the final three and a half months of last season due to ankle surgery.
Neymar’s contract with Al-Hilal is set to expire in June 2025, with the option to extend it for another year, but the two sides could part ways following the forward’s dismal first season in the Middle East.
Neymar has been seen writhing in agony as he continues his recovery from his knee injury, increasing concerns that he may never be the same player who lit up the international stage over the last decade.
Jordan Henderson left neighboring Saudi club Al-Ettifaq on Thursday to join Ajax after only six months in the country’s top division, and Neymar may now be considering a move after a single season with his new team.
On a podcast last year, his father said it was ”absolutely possible” that Neymar would return to Brazil to play for Flamengo before clumsily backtracking, and the former Barcelona and PSG star could be interested in returning to his country.
