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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Moved to the Middle East in 2023</li><li>Suffered serious knee injury</li><li>Linked with return to roots at Santos</li></ul>

Five appearances & out?! Neymar responds to ‘completely false’ transfer talk as Brazilian superstars sees move away Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal speculated on

The Brazil international was another marquee recruit in the Middle East during the summer window of 2023. He opted to tread a similar path to Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema when <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-psg-happy-see-lionel-messi-neymar-kylian-mbappe-era-end-club-president-explaining-ligue-1-champions-great-without-trio/bltc82150869c0c13c3" target="_blank">severing ties with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Neymar was expected to dazzle audiences in Riyadh, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/injured-neymar-makes-trophy-vow-after-al-hilal-win-king-s-cup-against-cristiano-ronaldo-s-al-nassr/bltac7abf0b13c85a91" target="_blank">suffered an ACL injury when on World Cup qualifying duty with his country</a> in October 2023. He was immediately ruled out for the rest of the season – missing a title triumph for Al-Hilal and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-cristiano-ronaldo-tears-al-nassr-superstar-heartbroken-king-s-cup-final-defeat-al-hilal-neymar-lionel-messi-chants/blt749f5e19f838f2cd" target="_blank">Kings Cup of Champions triumph against Ronaldo and Al-Nassr</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

It has been suggested that his lucrative contract could be torn up, as Neymar sees <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mls-reunion-neymar-lionel-messi-talk-a-lot-al-hilal-forward-inter-miami-superstar-great-idol-transfer-rumours/blt7c3172bd37534ed0" target="_blank">a Lionel Messi reunion at Inter Miami</a> or return to his Santos-based roots speculated on, but the 32-year-old forward has told <a href="https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/artigo/_/id/13743645/neymar-obviamente-que-acho-que-a-bola-de-ouro-hoje-e-do-vini-jr " target="_blank">ESPN</a> of those rumours: “What is being said is completely false, there is nothing planned. I still have one year left on my contract with Al-Hilal and I hope I can have a great season. We'll be living things as we go. It's true that Santos is my favourite team and I'd like to come back one day, but I don't have a plan in mind.”

WHAT NEYMAR SAID

Neymar has made no secret of the fact that he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-neymar-returns-santos-psg-be-back-message-attending-game-brazil/blt5ce665ad39fa4247" target="_blank">intends to head back to Santos at some stage</a>, having started his career on their books. There is, however, still plenty left for him to prove elsewhere, and many doubters to be silenced, before <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-homecoming-brazilian-superstar-tells-santos-players-will-return-boyhood-club-al-hilal/blt777d22b19f1a7b39" target="_blank">retracing steps to where it all began</a>.

WHAT NEXT?

Five appearances & out?! Neymar responds to ‘completely false’ transfer talk as Brazilian superstars sees move away Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal speculated on | Goal.com Australia

Neymar has shut down “completely false” transfer talk suggesting that he could leave Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal after just five appearances.

Five appearances &amp; out?! Neymar responds to ‘completely false’ transfer talk as Brazilian superstars sees move away Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal speculated on