Neymar arrives in Saudi Arabia after signing for Pro League facet Al-Hilal from PSG
Neymar has arrived in Saudi Arabia after agreeing a deal to maneuver from French facet Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi Pro League.
The ahead landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport having departed PSG to hitch Al Hilal.
He was photographed boarding a largely empty jumbo jet in Paris and later touchdown within the Middle Eastern nation.
The 31-year-old was carrying a cream tracksuit and a big diamond-encrusted cross as he left for the conservative Islamic nation.
On his arrival, he draped an Al Hilal scarf round his shoulders as he was greeted and was given a bouquet of flowers by his hosts.
Neymar agreed a £86.3m deal to hitch the Saudi Pro League earlier this month, including to the checklist of massive names to go away Europe for the fabulously well-paid Arabian competitors.
He spent a while signing autographs for followers as he made his means by way of the airport.
The ahead wore a shawl from his new membership, Al Hilal
The Brazilian will take residence £129.2m a 12 months in Saudi Arabia, in response to Sky Sports News – six occasions the quantity he earned at PSG.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane are among the many soccer stars to have additionally made the transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
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The star was handed a bouquet of flowers
He paused to signal autographs
“I believe Cristiano Ronaldo started all of this and everybody called him ‘crazy’, and this and that. Today you see the league grow more and more,” Neymar stated in his first interview after the switch on Wednesday.
“It is exciting, meeting top-quality players on the other teams thrills you and motivates you to play even better. And it is a given when you face Ronaldo, Benzema, (Roberto) Firmino, that the excitement is even greater,” he added.
Neymar received 5 league titles throughout his time in France with PSG however didn’t deliver the Champions League to Paris, regardless of reaching the ultimate in 2019-20. He beforehand received the Champions League with Barcelona in 2014-15.
Despite being one of many world’s most proficient gamers, he has additionally to date didn’t win main honours with Brazil and his time at PSG was disrupted by accidents and off-the-field controversies.
His departure has been seen as ending an period of PSG signing soccer’s superstars, with Lionel Messi additionally leaving this summer season to play for Inter Miami within the US.
However, regardless of a record-breaking bid from Saudi Arabia earlier this summer season, French star Kylian Mbappe is anticipated to remain in Paris.
Neymar’s new membership, Al Hilal, is considered one of 4 Saudi golf equipment to have been successfully nationalised by the state-run Public Investment Fund (PIF), which claims belongings of about £550bn.
They embrace the LIV Golf collection that challenged the PGA Tour earlier than the 2 organisations agreed to hitch forces.
PIF is chaired by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose ambitions in international sports activities have grow to be a signature coverage.