Palmeiras President Leila Pereira has clearly stated that signing Neymar is not an option. The club is not ready to accept the risks that come with the player’s health challenges, as she pointed out. The Brazilian international has been with Al-Hilal since the summer of 2023, but he has been more in the medical room than on the pitch. Where will Neymar play next?
Leila Rules Out Prospect Of Signing Neymar
The potential of Neymar signing with Palmeiras was discussed by Leila Pereira in a recent interview. The 60-year-old said: “Neymar will not join Palmeiras, this club isn’t a medical department. I want someone who will come to join immediately, who can play tomorrow if the manager wishes. I won’t accept us signing a player who’s unfit to play”.
Palmeiras is not looking at Neymar as a possible addition to their squad. The current injury concerns that the Brazilian forward has been experiencing are most likely the reason for this choice. Neymar picked up another injury in the AFC Champions League game against Esteghlal. The 32-year-old will have to go through treatment and rehab after suffering a hamstring tear. There have been mixed reactions from fans all over the world in reaction to the words of Palmeiras president.
One said: “And she is right….with the occurrence of injuries Neymar gets after every two games no one would want to sign him…not to mention the money he gets paid for nothing… Neymar should retire from football. No offense.”
Neymar To Leave Al-Hilal
Neymar has once again found himself on the sidelines due to injury. This has caused speculations about a potential exit from Al-Hilal and rumors of a transfer to another club have begun to circulate. However, Neymar has expressed his desire for more star players to make the move to Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian international said he was very pleased and expects things to get better. He said:
“The opportunity to play here and live in a country like this is very important for people. That’s why I always say I was very well received here. I am very happy and confident that things will only improve. I’m sure other stars will come here. I believe many will have the opportunity to come here, and I think everyone should be able to experience what I have experienced here.”
Al-Hilal has officially communicated to relevant authorities their decision not to register Neymar for the upcoming second half of the season. The reason behind this decision is that the position must be filled by a player capable of making a significant contribution to the team. Al-Hilal is at a crossroads as they weigh the option of terminating his contract, which extends until the summer of 2025, or opting to offload him in the upcoming January transfer window. The former Barcelona and PSG forward has only played seven matches for Al-Hilal since he signed in 2023. He scored one goal and provided three assists in these seven appearances.
Final Thoughts
Neymar has struggled to play for Al-Hilal because of injuries, and he faced another setback in a recent game against Esteghlal. After tearing his ACL in a 2026 World Cup qualification match against Uruguay, the Brazilian attacker has been out of action. Al-Hilal looks to have lost interest in the 32-year-old player because of his ongoing medical problems. The president of Palmeiras has clearly turned down any chance of signing the superstar. His old team, Santos, is reportedly very keen on re-signing him. This comes as they are on the verge of moving up from Serie B to Serie A in Brazil.
