Neymar's Saudi exit best for all
After injuries and bad luck, the Brazilian had become a distraction for Al-Hilal
Not many in Saudi Arabia think that Steven Gerrard’s exit was anything other than a dismissal for poor results but the departure of Neymar earlier in the week really was a case of mutual consent and benefit.
Monday was quite a day in the Saudi Pro League. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, once in the second minute and again in the 94th, to give Al-Qadsia a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal. It was only the leader’s second defeat of the season but there was at least some good news in that Al-Ittihad, level on points in second, also lost. After the game, Hilal boss Jorge Jesus said that his team would be fine without Neymar and for the league leaders who strolled to a 19th Saudi Pro League (SPL) title last season, he may have a point.
In the wider league, there is more of a sense of ‘what might have been’ but then it is hard to miss something that you never had – just seven games that totalled just seven hours in almost 18 months. Obviously, there is some regret. Al-Hilal spent 90 million euros to bring the Brazilian in from Paris Saint-Germain. Apparently, the 32 year-old’s every touch of the ball in 2024 cost over two million euros. For the tens, hundreds, of millions spent, it was obviously not a great return though Al-Hilal were never one to watch the pennies even before being taken over by the Public Investment Fund in the summer of 2023 and can suck it up.
The Blues see themselves as the biggest club, not only in Saudi Arabia but Asia and, with more titles than any other at home and on the continent, many would agree. Once Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr had signed Cristiano Ronaldo on the last day of 2022 and Al-Ittihad, over by the Red Sea in Jeddah, grabbed Karim Benzema, Hilal were always going to get in on the megastar act.
The fact that Brazil’s record goalscorer arrived in Riyadh from Paris Saint-Germain injured could have been seen a sign of things to come, though fans didn’t have to wait too long for a debut. On September 15, 2023, he came off the bench against Al-Riyadh and made two goals in a 6-1 win. There followed two full league games and the same in the Asian Champions League where he found the net against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandara.
It was all starting to come together. He looked hungry, fit and dangerous. Few would have guessed then that this would be his only goal in the Middle East. That was because of a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October, during which the Brazilian ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
On the pitch, Al-Hilal hardly noticed and won the SPL by 14 points without losing a single game. Neymar’s absence made no difference though had he been around for the Asian Champions League, a narrow loss in the semi-final against Al-Ain of the UAE could have ended differently.
After a few months, the reports started to come through that he was back training, sometimes in South America and sometimes in the Middle East, that a summer of 2024 return was possible. Regardless, he was not registered in the squad for the first half of the SPL season, starting from August to the end of the year. His place –each team is allowed ten foreign players —was taken by compatriot Marcos Leonardo.
There is no such restriction on foreigners in Asia (a new rule pushed through by Saudi Arabia) so Neymar’s October return came in the Champions League, coming off the bench in a crazy game with Al-Ain that Hilal ended up winning 5-4.
The next appearance came against Esteghlal, that storied team from Tehran. Once again, the former Barcelona star came off the bench and there were flicks, tricks and plenty to get fans excited. It was actually great to watch. Then, in the final few minutes, he pulled up when stretching for a ball in the area and that was that.
When he wasn’t registered for the second half of the SPL season, the writing was on the wall. There was a sense that he had become a distraction for Al-Hilal and especially their coach Jorge Jesus. The veteran Portuguese boss was asked about Neymar more than any of those in the squad who actually played and in January said…
"I don't know anything about Neymar's future. I can't comment on things I don't know. The Saudi Pro League is one of the best leagues in the world. Neymar can no longer play at the level we are used to."
Talking to fans, they seem philosophical about it all. “A great player,” said Hilal supporter Ayman Al-Hotawi. “I wish we could have benefitted more from him on the field, but injury deprived us of his great talent but Al Hilal is a big club that can’t wait forever.”
Some of the media reports have been less than complimentary, wondering whether Neymar could have worked harder during his recovery and whether he was as keen on spending time in Saudi Arabia has he could have been.
There were always going to be comparisons with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo of bitter Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr. Seven years older but much fitter, CR7 has been the perfect poster boy who has barely missed a game since arriving early in 2023, has children who speak Arabic and every time he reports for international duty tells the world that the SPL is better than its French, American or Portuguese counterpart.
Ultimately, when you don’t play then you are not part of the conversation and for both parties it was better to move on. Al-Hilal seem fine without Neymar, the league won’t miss something it never really had, and the player has an emotional return home to Santos ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
John Duerden