Neymar is STILL injured and his Al-Hilal debut could be delayed a month – after the Saudi club put on a spectacular welcome show in front of 60,000 fans for a £130million-per-season man
- Neymar may have to wait until September for his Al-Hilal debut due to an injury
- The Brazilian star was welcomed with an effortless ceremony on Saturday
- He signed a £130 million per season contract, but has not played a game since February
Neymar could be forced to wait until mid-September to make his Al-Hilal debut after missing the last six months of action with an ankle injury.
Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus confirmed the Brazilian star was ‘not ready’ in a blow that will disappoint the 60,000 fans who turned out for his lavish welcome.
The former PSG man was treated to a princely salute filled with fireworks, bright lights, high-fives from a guard of honor and a drone show in the sky that read ‘Neymar is Blue’ in reference to the club’s colours. Fellow signings Malcom and Yassine Bounou were also revealed to fans.
He completed a £78 million transfer from PSG a few days ago and has signed a two-year deal at £130 million per season.
“Neymar is an innovative and creative player, he will help us get better, but he has a slight injury now and I don’t know when he will return. He may be ready by mid-September, manager Jesus said on Saturday after the unveiling at King Fahd International Stadium.
Neymar should wait until mid-September for his Al-Hilal debut, his new manager Jorge Jesus said
The Brazilian star was welcomed to his new club with an exquisite ceremony as aerial drones spelled ‘Neymar is Blue’.
A lavish atmosphere – with a banner bearing a not-so-comparable resemblance to Neymar – reveled in the occasion
Your browser does not support iframes.
Despite his injury battle, Brazil included the 31-year-old in their squad for their World Cup qualifiers with Bolivia and Peru on September 9-13.
“I don’t know how the Brazilian national team (could have) called him, he is not ready,” said a surprised Jesus.
Joining Al-Hilal will make Neymar the second highest paid player in the world behind Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns £175 million per season.
Neymar’s new side finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, but were well behind winners Al-Ittihad, who now boast Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Jota.
About 60,000 people attended King Fahd International Stadium as fireworks and a guard of honor introduced him
Neymar has signed a two-year contract worth £130 million per season after an £86 million transfer from PSG
Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus was confused as to why Brazil included the star in their squad for their World Cup qualifiers next month given his injury
In addition to Neymar, Al-Hilal recently added his Brazilian team-mate Malcom, former Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and ex-Fulham and Newcastle man Aleksandar Mitrovic.
They followed previous signings Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic through the door.
Saudi clubs have spent more than £500 million this summer and are showing no signs of stopping, and massive unveiling ceremonies are all part of the package.
Millions were spent on entertainment, talent and logistics to put together Neymar’s ceremony and follows Benzema’s, who had his own ceremony of epic proportions.
(TagsToTranslate)dailymail