Neymar links up with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Saudi Arabia

Neymar posed for a photograph alongside NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo after Al-Hilal joked that they were preparing to sign the pair of them.

Earlier this week Neymar completed his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi side. The Brazilian is set to earn $174 million from his two-year deal in Saudi Arabia.

The 7-foot Greek has previously joked that he would consider a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League and he posed alongside Neymar after the Al-Hilal deal was confirmed.

Giannis, who was named NBA MVP in 2019 and 2020, captioned the photo: “Best duo in Saudi league”.

The Milwaukee Bucks star grew up in Greece and has previously admitted that soccer was his childhood passion.

“If I wasn’t a basketball player, I would be a soccer player for sure,” Giannis said.

“My favourite team used to be Arsenal and my favourite player used to be Thierry Henry,” he continued. “I am an Arsenal fan but I like PSG when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was here on the team. Deep down I am still an Arsenal fan.”

Giannis joked about Saudi Pro League interest

Neymar is one of a number of elite players to have be targeted by the ambitious Saudi Pro League with a lucrative financial package. Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in January, the likes of Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane have all made a Saudi switch.

Teams in the Saudi Pro League, particularly those receiving additional investment from the state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have been able to offer top players contracts that far exceed what they would be able to earn in Europe’s biggest clubs.

Last month it was reported that Al-Hilal had offered French forward Kylian Mbappé an astonishing $776 million one-year deal for a single year in the Saudi Pro League.

Mbappé refused to enter into negotiations with the club but Giannis took to social media to joke that he would happily take the money. He joked that he could make the move because he looks like the Frenchman.