Al-Hilal Considers Terminating FC Barcelona Legend Neymar’s Contract, Reports Saudi Media

Al-Hilal is open to terminating the contract of former FC Barcelona star Neymar according to the same Saudi outlet, Action Ma3 Waleed, that boasts the rights to broadcast the local Pro League and cited anonymous sources.

Joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, who smashed the world transfer record when triggering his Barca release clause, Neymar was bought by current employers Al-Hilal six years later for a fee reported as $96 million (€90 million) by many outlets including BBC Sport.

While on international duty for the Selecao against Uruguay, though, in late 2023, Neymar picked up a serious ACL injury that kept him sidelined until recently.

It was previously thought that Neymar might not return to action until 2025, yet he made his comeback ahead of schedule on October 21 against Al-Ain from the UAE.

In a worrying development, however, Neymar pulled up injured once more a few days ago just 30 minutes after coming off the bench during an AFC Champions League win versus Esteghla.

"Hopefully nothing too much... It's normal that after one year [out] this happens, the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes," Neymar wrote in an Instagram story in reaction to the potential setback.

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Even so, those minutes might be completed elsewhere considering that Al-Hilal is reportedly thinking about terminating Neymar's two-year contract prematurely in January.

In the past, Neymar has been linked to a reunion with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, or representing his boyhood club Santos once more.

His contract being terminated would give him free reign to do so, and a critic in Saudi Arabia has advised Al-Hilal to wash its hands of the 32-year-old after getting just seven appearances out of him.

"The number of days he [Neymar] has been absent is more than the number of days he has played," local pundit Mohammed Al-Sheikh said.

"He is a damaged player and also neglected, and this is very clear. He is very talented but his body is prone to injuries.

"His continuation is a drain on Al-Hilal financially and technically, and the club must get rid of him even if it costs them paying the full value of the penalty clause," Al-Sheikh added.