Al-Hilal are moving to part ways with Neymar following a serious knee injury while they actively pursue a wave of European talent in the January window. The club is weighing options to bolster the squad with players who bring a different dimension to the attack and midfield, aiming to keep themselves competitive at the highest level.
- Neymar was out of the season due to a knee injury
- A £78 million company is deregistered
- Al-Hilal is looking for reinforcement, focusing on European stars
WHAT HAPPENED The star forward sustained a severe knee injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay and required surgery last Thursday to address an anterior cruciate ligament tear and a torn meniscus. At the moment, Neymar is not expected to return to action until the season concludes and is likely to miss a substantial portion of the campaign as a result. The situation has put the spotlight on Al-Hilal’s strategic planning for the next steps during the winter transfer period.
THE BIG PICTURE This move aligns with Saudi Pro League rules that cap non-Saudi players on a given squad at eight. Beyond Neymar, the foreign contingent for Al-Hilal includes notable names such as Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and a pair of Brazilian forwards, Malcolm and Michael. These players are part of a broad effort to elevate the team’s quality and depth in every position, especially while the club navigates the injury setback to its star attacker.
In addition to squad balance, coach Jorge Jesus is intent on adding a foreign left back to bolster both defensive resilience and attacking width. The decision to pursue additional international talent is therefore tied to the longer-term plan for the 2024/25 season, with the expectation that Neymar would recover and rejoin the squad if fitness is regained in time for the campaign’s later stages. The management team remains hopeful that a successful January window will position the club for another strong title challenge.
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Goalkeeping and coaching notes continue to circulate among insiders as the team coordinates its approach to reinforcements and potential departures. The focus remains on preserving competitive momentum while the squad adapts to the evolving injury landscape and transfer market dynamics.
WHAT’S NEXT Neymar’s ongoing injury concerns are contributing to mixed results for the club in the Middle East, with a tally of one goal in five league appearances. Nevertheless, Al-Hilal continues to lead the Saudi Pro League and is set to face fourth-placed Al-Taawon in their upcoming fixture, a match that could test their depth but also highlight the impact of the reinforcements being considered for January.