Verbal agreement in place to bring an end to Neymar’s time in Saudi Arabia

Neymar appears set for a return to the club that forged him as a young player with a verbal agreement in place between Al Hilal and Santos. The possible return to Brazil for the striker has become a mini soap opera in the current winter transfer market as negotiations commence and then stall.

At present the nature of the return to the Brazilian top flight has yet to be established with the current plan to be a six-month loan with Santos looking for a longer term given that the new Brazilian season starts at the end of March and runs through to December 29.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that both clubs have reached an agreement verbally and now need to dot the i’s and cross t’s when it comes to the players large salary and the precise nature of the deal.

During his time in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal, the Brazilian made only seven appearances, bagging one goal during an injury-struck 18 months with the club.

Neymar made his Santos debut in 2009 at the age of 17 and quickly became the focal point of the attack, scoring 14 goals across his first full season. By 2012, at the age of 20, Neymar had already scored 100 goals and it was clear that a move to one European soccer’s elite clubs was beckoning with the switch to FC Barcelona materialising in 2013.

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