Goodbye Neymar: Brazilian’s astonishing Al Hilal severance package

Neymar’s time in Saudi Arabia is officially over, with the former Barcelona star making a sensational return to his former club.

Neymar’s adventure in Saudi Arabia, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo’s, is officially over. The former Barcelona star has terminated his contract with Al Hilal, closing a chapter filled with more downs than ups, marked by a serious injury that sidelined him for a year and a recovery that brought more problems than solutions.

The attacker’s future took a radically different turn last week. Several outbursts from both parties has led to the Saudi Pro League team agreeing to cut all ties with their biggest name. Although it hasn’t come cheap.

What went wrong for Neymar in Saudi Arabia?

Where did it all go wrong for Neymar and Al Hilal? On October 21, the 32-year-old returned to action after a year out due to an ACL tear, but he barely lasted a couple of days before suffering another setback - this time a muscle injury.

This unexpected blow led Al Hilal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, to lose faith in the player. The club made it clear: Neymar was not expected to contribute for the rest of the season.

Injured, with just six months left on his contract and a salary exceeding eight figures, Neymar’s situation was already beginning to look bleak, something Jorge Jesus confirmed in a press conference: “(Neymar) cannot perform at the level we expect. He still has a contract with Al Hilal, and perhaps he will decide his future.” Al Hilal opened the door wide open while Neymar weighed up his options.

Neymar makes emotional final decision on next club

Neymar went from “I will decide my future once I recover from the injury” to “I am terminating my contract” in the blink of an eye.

Early last week, his camp made it clear to all interested clubs that his preferred destination was Brazil. After thanking and rejecting offers from MLS (Chicago Fire) that “pleased Al Hilal economically,” his camp, led by his agent Pini Zahavi, set the wheels in motion to make his return to first club Santos possible.

Over the weekend, talks with Saudi management intensified and the decision was made. “The termination of his contract looks very likely. Anything is possible,” sources from both sides indicated.

How much money will Neymar get for leaving Al Hilal?

The major issue was financial: Neymar still had $90 million to collect in the remaining six months of his contract. All parties agreed to a final meeting on January 27. It was all or nothing.

In the end, Al Hilal agreed to Neymar’s demands for several reasons, the most important being that he will be one of the ambassadors for the 2034 World Cup, and they did not want to leave a bad impression. Neymar will pocket between $30 million and $40 million as a settlement.

That comes despite playing only seven games for Al Hilal across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. An average of between $4.28 million and $5.71 million per appearance.

The number 10 returns to Santos, where it all began, hoping to reinvigorate his career and once again become the Neymar who once captivated the world.

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