AL HILAL
When will Neymar be back in action after latest setback?
The Brazilian’s return to competitive action will take a little longer than anticipated with ‘Blue Waves’ fans having to wait until November.
Neymar returned to training with Al-Hilal last July as the Brazilian continued his rehabilitation following surgery on his left knee in November of last year following an ACL tear in October 2023.
Brazil faced Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium and the Seleçao number ‘10′ fell to the grass after a strong collision with De la Cruz just before half-time, immediately showing clear signs of pain in his knee. After undergoing scans with team doctors, a statement on his social networks confirmed the worst news: a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.
Fast forward to September 2024 and just when Al Hilal fans were looking forward to seeing the striker back in action, the latest medical tests have determined that the 32-year-old will need two more months of recovery. According to local Saudi media outlet Arriyadiyah, given the current setback, Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has decided to register him only to play in the Asian Champions League.
The main problem is the need to free up a foreigner’s place. In the AFC Champions League, the rules are based on those of the clubs in their respective leagues. Saudi teams can only register up to ten foreigners, but two of those places must be filled by two players born from 2003 onwards. Therefore, the Riyadh club has to leave out of the list one of the nine foreigners in its ranks: Bono, Koulibaly, Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Mitrovic, Neymar and Lodi.
The Portuguese coach will announce the final list on 11 September and has reportedly decided to share the last spot between Lodi and Neymar. The former PSG striker’s place in the league will be taken up, until January, by his compatriot and former Atlético Madrid player.
Neymar’s time in Riyadh has been far from plain sailing and since he moved from PSG to Al Hilal in August of 2023, the striker has only managed five games for the ‘Blue Waves’ (one goal and two assists). His absence has not been noticed in the team’s performance as Al Hilal have been the dominant force in Saudi Arabia recently winning the 23-24 league title, the Kings Cup and the Saudi Super Cup.