The 32-year-old forward, who previously played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, has faced numerous injuries during his time in Saudi Arabia, managing to appear in only seven matches despite an estimated annual salary of approximately $104 million.
The unnamed source indicated, “Neymar is discussing his departure with Al-Hilal but his high financial demands remain a major obstacle.”
Neymar's contract with the Saudi Pro League team runs until June. Reports from Brazil suggest that Santos, the club where Neymar first gained prominence, is in discussions for his return to Brazil; however, Al-Hilal prefers a transfer, while Neymar is inclined towards a loan arrangement.
Neymar, who made headlines with the record-breaking transfer to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a fee of 220 million euros ($230 million), joined Al-Hilal in August 2023, following other high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the lucrative Saudi league.
However, just two months after his arrival in Riyadh, he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee while representing Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, sidelining him for a year. He has since dealt with a series of hamstring and knee injuries as he attempted to return to the field for Al-Hilal.
Recently, the club’s coach Jorge Jesus remarked, “He can no longer perform at the level we are accustomed to. Unfortunately, things have become challenging for him.”
A move back to Brazil could represent a final opportunity for Neymar, who is the all-time leading scorer for his national team with 79 goals in 127 appearances.