PSG welcomed back Kylian Mbappe on Sunday, and Neymar was reportedly “in negotiations” to join him in Saudi Arabia. According to reports, the 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club’s or manager’s plans” and is currently affiliated with the Gulf country’s Al-Hilal.
Another Saudi source said that Neymar’s representatives had “direct negotiations” with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). If we reach an agreement with him in the next few hours, we will begin negotiations with PSG immediately. The information suggested he would join Al-Hilal. For a then-record 220 million euros ($241 million), Barcelona sold Neymar to PSG in 2017.
Just last month, Mbappe rejected the 300 million euro offer from Al-Hilal. The Mbappe stalemate grabbed all the attention after a summer of new signings, doubts over Neymar’s future, and Lionel Messi’s exit from the Parc des Princes.
The France captain has chosen not to extend his contract with PSG, which means he will be a free agent in 2024. His dream destination is Real Madrid. After spending 180 million euros to acquire him from Monaco in 2017, Qatari-owned PSG is eager to cash in on their investment.
“The position is clear. Kylian needs to re-sign if he is to remain with the team. The best player in the world cannot leave without compensation,” PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said last month.
Mbappe was only included in one of PSG’s five exhibition games and did not travel to Japan or South Korea for the club’s preseason trip.
After a contract dispute kept him away for weeks, Mbappe sat in the seats at Parc des Princes and watched the game. PSG made the announcement on Sunday that their star player had returned.
PSG tweeted, “Following very constructive and positive discussions between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe before the PSG-Lorient match, the player was reinstated in first-team training this morning,”
Neymar’s Injuries derailed his time at PSG.
After having surgery on his right ankle in early March, Neymar joined PSG on their pre-season tour of Asia. He made it to the final of the Champions League in 2020, although he has missed key matches.
The new coach, Luis Enrique, did not start Mbappe or Neymar in Saturday’s disappointing 0-0 tie in Lorient.
Great players have been flocking to Saudi Arabia since Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr in January.
