Paris Saint-Germain agrees to deal with Al-Hilal to sell Neymar Jr., according to reports

   The soccer world was stunned by the news that Paris Saint-Germain has agreed to a deal with Saudi club Al-Hilal to sell Neymar Jr., one of the most talented and expensive players in history, according to reports.

   Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a record-breaking fee of €222 million (approximately $243.1M), is reportedly set to leave the French giants after six years and join Al-Hilal for a fee of around €90 million ($98.5M) plus add-ons

     The 31-year-old Brazilian forward, who has won 13 major trophies with PSG, including five Ligue 1 titles and three Coupe de France titles, has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with Al-Hilal, where he will become the highest-paid player in the world.

    According to Sky Sports, Neymar is expected to undergo a medical on Monday before completing the transfer within 24 hours. Ekhbariya, a state-owned television company in Saudi Arabia, confirmed the deal on social media on Monday, saying: “Al-Hilal club officially agrees with Brazilian star Neymar in a record transfer deal from Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian Neymar will wear number 10 with his new team.

   The move comes as a shock to many fans and pundits, who expected Neymar to stay at PSG and compete for the Champions League title, the only major trophy that has eluded him and the club during his tenure.

    Neymar, who has scored 115 goals and provided 77 assists in 165 appearances for PSG, was part of the formidable attacking trio that also featured Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, who joined PSG from Barcelona last summer on a free transfer.

    However, the superstar trio failed to deliver the European glory that PSG craved, as they were knocked out by Manchester City in the semifinals last season and by Real Madrid in the round of 16 this season

    Neymar’s relationship with PSG’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, also deteriorated over time, as Morey reportedly tried to trade Neymar to several clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester City, and Chelsea, without his consent.

    Neymar publicly criticized Morey in a promotional event in China last month, calling him a “liar” and saying he would never play for an organization that he was part of

    Neymar’s departure leaves PSG with a huge void in their attack, as they also face the uncertainty of Mbappé’s future. The 23-year-old French star, who has scored 139 goals and provided 73 assists in 184 games for PSG, has only one year left on his contract and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid

    Meanwhile, Neymar will join Al-Hilal, the most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia. Al-Hilal has won 62 domestic trophies, including 17 Saudi Pro League titles and nine King’s Cup titles. They have also won three AFC Champions League titles, the most recent one in 2019.

     Al-Hilal is part of the Saudi Pro League’s ambitious project to attract some of the best players in the world to boost the league’s profile and competitiveness. Neymar will join other star names who have moved to Saudi Arabia recently, such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), N’Golo Kanté (Al-Shabab), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Ahli), Edouard Mendy (Al-Taawoun), Roberto Firmino (Al-Fateh), Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr), and Marcelo Brozović (Al-Wehda).

     Neymar will wear the number 10 jersey at Al-Hilal, following in the footsteps of legendary players such as Yousuf Al-Thunayan, Sami Al-Jaber, Thiago Neves, and Sebastian Giovinco. He will also reunite with his former PSG teammate Edinson Cavani, who joined Al-Hilal last month on a free transfer.

     Neymar will hope to add more silverware to his impressive collection with Al-Hilal, as well as challenge for individual honors such as the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best Player award. He will also aim to lead Brazil to glory at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

     What do you think of Neymar’s transfer to Al-Hilal? Do you think he made the right decision or do you think he should have stayed at PSG? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!