Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Neymar has made a surprising move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a deal worth 90 million euros plus add-ons. This transfer has sparked frustration among fans, who took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
The summer of 2023 has been marked by Saudi Arabia’s financial power in bringing in big-name players. With the backing of the Saudi government, clubs have been on a spending spree, attracting stars from all over the world. Cristiano Ronaldo’s move was just the beginning, and now Neymar Jr has joined the list. PSG has agreed to sell him to Al-Hilal.
According to reports, Neymar Jr has completed his medical and paperwork for the move to Al-Hilal, with PSG receiving a transfer fee of around 90 million euros plus add-ons. This makes him yet another star player to opt for the Saudi Pro League.
Neymar originally joined PSG in 2017 for a world record fee of 222 million euros. However, his time at the club was marred by injuries, and he failed to win any major European trophies aside from the Ligue 1 title.
Every summer since his arrival at PSG, Neymar has been heavily linked with moves away from the club. Finally, the rumors have come to an end, as PSG has decided to move on from their big-name players and sell him to Al-Hilal.
Many were taken aback by Neymar’s decision to make the move, especially considering he is only 31 years old and still has the ability to thrive in top European leagues. However, the attraction of a lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League seems to have motivated him.
During his time at PSG, Neymar made 173 appearances, winning a total of 13 trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles. He also played a part in PSG’s journey to the Champions League final in 2020.
Fans have expressed their frustration and disappointment with Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal on social media. While some called it a smart move, the majority criticized him for being money-minded and suggested that he has thrown away his career for financial gain.
One fan humorously remarked that Neymar won’t be able to perform his famous rainbow flick in Saudi Arabia. Another pointed out that he has wasted his talent by choosing to play in the Saudi Pro League.
This move by Neymar to Al-Hilal has ignited debates among football experts, with some calling for FIFA to intervene. Even Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his displeasure with the Saudi Pro League’s growing influence.
It is worth noting that Neymar’s move comes just 24 hours after Kylian Mbappe’s decision to stay at PSG and rejoin the first-team training. This further highlights the contrasting paths of the two star players.
The summer transfer window of 2023 has seen several big names from Europe’s top five leagues make moves to Saudi Arabia. Players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino have all joined Saudi clubs, thanks to the financial power and ambitious plans of these teams.
As Neymar embarks on a new chapter in his career with Al-Hilal, only time will tell if this move proves to be a successful one for both the player and the Saudi Pro League.
