New Delhi: After missing almost a year due to a left knee injury, Brazilian sensation Neymar confirmed on Monday that he will resume team training with his Saudi club Al Hilal. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in a sensational trade in August 2023, the 32-year-old featured in just five games before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus while on international duty in October. Neymar said on Instagram, “Happy to be back in the group,” along with photos showing himself kicking the ball and jogging while Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus looked on.
Neymar returned to solitary training in July following surgery. According to a club official who asked to remain anonymous to AFP, “his technical readiness and the coach’s decision” will determine when he returns to playing competitively. Last week, Dorival Junior, the coach of Brazil, asked for patience as Neymar recovered. Neymar was left out of his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru.
Neymar has not yet been registered by Al-Hilal, the defending Saudi champions of Saudi Pro League, which got underway last month. However, the former Barcelona star is scheduled to compete in Asia’s largest club competition, the AFC Champions League, for a reputed salary of over 100 million euros ($112 million) annually.
Al-Hilal easily won the Saudi league the previous season, going undefeated with 31 victories and 3 draws despite the absence of Neymar. Before Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates defeated the Riyadh club in the semifinals of the Champions League, the team set a record with 34 straight victories across all competitions.
Good news for Al Hilal as Neymar Jr. returns to the training ground after recovering from a long injury. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
