Neymar is pictured in an Al-Hilal kit for the first time in elaborate unveiling video as he prepares to earn a whopping £260m as the latest star name in Saudi Arabia
Neymar has been pictured in an Al-Hilal kit for the first time as he seals his £78million switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazilian was seen speaking to the Saudi club’s fans in a video on their social media pages where he is heard saying: ‘I am here in Saudi Arabia’.
Neymar has left PSG after agreeing a two-year deal with the PIF-backed club, one that is understood to be worth £130million a year.
He becomes the latest superstar to make the switch the Kingdom, following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane to the globe’s biggest emerging football division.
He rejected the possibility of a loan move to his former club Barcelona, which would have included an option to buy him outright next year.
‘I am here in Saudi Arabia, i am HILALI,’ Neymar says in the video, which begins with a blue lightning bolt, the colours of Al-Hilal, racing through the streets to the confusion of passers by.
Neymar was contracted to the French champions until 2027 but has decided to try new things at the age of 31.
Al-Hilal also made a world record offer of £259m for PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, who rejected the move despite his poor relations with the French club.
The Saudi side have spent big this summer on the likes of Ruben Neves from Wolves, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio and Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg.
Al-Hilal were defeated 2-1 by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup on Saturday, having finished third in the league last season.
Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona in a world record £198m deal in 2017, was left out of Luis Enrique’s squad for the Ligue 1 opener against Lorient on Saturday, which finished goalless.
More to follow.
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Al-Hilal failed in their effort to lure Kylian Mbappe (right) from PSG as Neymar made the switch