Neymar signs $152 million deal with Saudi club as kingdom's ...
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which manages close to $US800 billion of assets, has taken a greater role in the football league recently, acquiring majority stakes in four of the biggest clubs, including Al-Hilal. State oil company Aramco took over another club at the same time.
The wealth fund, known as PIF, also led a consortium that bought Newcastle United for more than £300 million ($587 million) in 2021. The fund is considering buying another top football club in Europe, a person familiar said last month. Saudi Arabia is also exploring a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Sources close to the operation told Reuters that Neymar was having a medical in Paris on Monday (Tuesday AEST) and was expected to arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday to be presented to fans at King Fahd Stadium.
Al-Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al-Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt.
Neymar, who joined PSG in 2017 from Spanish club Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of €222 million, missed PSG’s league opener against Lorient on Saturday due to a viral infection.
The Brazilian was contracted to stay in the French capital until 2025 and has 118 goals in 173 appearances, capturing numerous trophies including five Ligue 1 titles, but is no longer considered a key player in coach Luis Enrique’s squad.
Bloomberg and Reuters
