Neymar defends himself after disastrous Al Hilal spell ends | OneFootball

Neymar has claimed that he "gave everything to play" for Al Hilal after confirmation of his departure following an injury-riddled 18 months in Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian moved to Riyadh in the summer of 2023 for a staggering €90m (£75m) fee from Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar reportedly earned €100m (£86.4m) per year, but suffered a severe knee injury in October 2023 while on international duty.

The 32-year-old returned to the pitch after a 370-day layoff earlier this season, yet continued to struggle for full fitness. Manager Jorge Jesus revealed that Neymar would not be registered as one of the non-Saudi players allowed in the club's league squad for the second half of the season, paving the way for his departure which was confirmed on Monday.

News of Neymar's exit six months before his contract expires prompted many to question his limited (and expensive) involvement for Al Hilal. The Brazilian finished his spell at the club with a final tally of seven appearances and just 428 minutes of competitive action.

In the second line of his farewell post on social media, Neymar wrote: "I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together."

The Brazilian opened with a message of appreciation for his former employers, who saw him score just one goal. "To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, thank you," Neymar wrote.

Neymar managed three assists in 18 months at Al Hilal / Yasser Bakhsh/GettyImages

"To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences. I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life. I always felt your love and passion for the game."

Neymar concluded his post with a nod to Saudi Arabia's controversial status as World Cup hosts in the coming years. "I will be following your journey ahead as a club and a country towards 2034," the Brazilian added. "Your future will be incredible, special things are happening. And I will always support you!!!"

The BBC are one of many outlets reporting that Neymar is on the verge of agreeing a short-term contract with his first professional club, Santos. The club president of Brazilian rivals Palmeiras brutally rebuffed the rumours that they were interested in the injury-prone forward because "this club isn't a medical department".

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano also quashed the possibility of signing Neymar in January.