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Tag: Al Hilal

  • Neymar, Saudi club end contract by mutual consent

    Neymar, Saudi club end contract by mutual consent

    Brazil star Neymar’s contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal has been terminated by mutual consent.

    The 32-year-old Brazilian forward joined Al-Hilal for 90 million euros in August 2023.

    But he has only played seven matches due to injuries, despite being the world’s most expensive footballer after his 2017 move to Paris St-Germain.

    Neymar has only made two appearances this season, with his last being a substitute appearance in November.

    He has been heavily linked with a return to his former club Santos in Brazil.

    “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career,” Al-Hilal said.

  • Neymar injury delays Al-Hilal debut by one month

    Neymar injury delays Al-Hilal debut by one month

    Brazilian winger Neymar might have to wait until September to make his debut for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal because of injury, coach Jorge Jesus said.

    Neymar joined Al-Hilal from Paris St Germain last Tuesday on a two-year contract that French newspaper L’Equipe said could earn the 31-year old 160 million euros (174 million dollars).

    “Neymar is an innovative and creative player, he will help us to improve, but he has a slight injury now and I don’t know when he will return.

    “Maybe he will be ready in mid-September,” Jesus said after a welcoming ceremony in front of 60,000 spectators at the King Fahd International Stadium on Saturday.

    Drones flew above Al-Hilal’s home ground and spelled out “Neymar is Blue” before the former Barcelona star watched his new team held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Fayha.

    Al-Hilal coach Jesus also expressed his surprise at Neymar’s inclusion in the Brazil squad for two World Cup qualifiers next month.

    “I don’t know how the Brazilian national team (could have) called him, he is not ready,” Jesus said.

    Neymar has not played for Brazil since last year’s World Cup as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained in February.

    But he has been included in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on Sept. 8 and Peru four days later.

  • BREAKING: Al-Hilal confirm signing Neymar

    BREAKING: Al-Hilal confirm signing Neymar

    Al Hilal Saudi Club, simply known as Al Hilal has confirmed signing Neymar from Paris Saint Germain (PSG).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports Al Hilal is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    “The wonderful talent… that attracts everyone’s attention,” a translated post by Al Hilal on X reads.

    Neymar Jr joined Al Hilal on a $300m package record salary in two years, with no option to extend.

    Salary could go up to a potential $400m total until 2025 based on add-ons and commercial deals.

    TNG reports the deal was sealed by his father, Neymar Pai and super agent, Pini Zahavi.

  • Transfer: Al Hilal offers Osimhen £1million-per-week wages

    Transfer: Al Hilal offers Osimhen £1million-per-week wages

    Saudi Arabian side, Al Hilal have made a mouth-watering offer worth €140m (£120.3m) to Napoli for striker Victor Osimhen, with wages on offer in the region of £1m per week.

    The Saudi Pro League club have already had a bid of €300m (£259m) for Paris St-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe accepted this summer – although the player declined to meet with them – and also tried to sign Lionel Messi before he moved to Inter Miami.

    Osimhen has been a transfer target for many clubsides this summer, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea have all shown interest in the Nigerian attacker.

    Osimhen, aged 24, was a transfer target for Manchester United this summer, with talks over a new contract with Napoli stalling.

    Sky Italy are reporting a meeting between Napoli and Osimhen’s agent failed to find a resolution on an extension to his deal, which runs until the summer of 2025.

    Last month, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis hinted on Osimhen signing a new contract with the club.

    He said: “We have a basic agreement on a two-year extension, but [we are] willing to consider an offer we could not refuse.”

     

  • Ighalo goes down memory lane, recounts how fans sent him death threats

    Ighalo goes down memory lane, recounts how fans sent him death threats

    Former Al-Hilal striker, Odion Ighalo, has revealed that he almost got killed after Nigeria’s elimination from the 2018 World Cup and their defeat to Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs, saying these were his two worst moments in his footballing career.

    Going down memory lane, the forward said he received death threats for the chances he missed against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    Unfortunately for him, it was to the fury of Nigerian supporters who chose to abuse him for weeks on social media after the Super Eagles’ ouster.

    However, Ighalo made a return to the national team in 2022 but couldn’t help Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup that held same year in Qatar

    Ighalo was also involved when the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after a 1-1 draw against Ghana in Abuja.

    “The two worst experiences I had with the Super Eagles was the game against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup when I missed a chance and the whole of Nigeria wanted to bury me alive,” Ighalo told Elegbete TV.

    “Also the last World Cup which we did not qualify for was another bad time for me.”

    Recall that Ighalo retired from international football after the Super Eagles won bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he also picked up the Golden Boot for the tournament.

  • Ighalo considers joining Nigerian premier League

    Ighalo considers joining Nigerian premier League

    Former Super Eagles point man, Odion Ighalo says he would be interested to play in the Nigeria Premier League again.

    Recall that Ighalo has left the Saudi Arabian league after two years of playing for Al Hilal

    The 34-year-old played for local clubs Prime FC and Julius Berger before starting his professional career in Europe in 2007.

    “I said if security is guaranteed, good coverage is assured and better officiating. Of course, [I will play],” the forward told Elegbete TV.

    “I have played in the league before, and it will be a great privilege for me to play again for another six months or one year before I end my career.”

    It would be recalled that Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa featured briefly for Kano Pillars in 2021 after severing ties with Saudi club, Al Nassr.

  • Messi set to seal mouth-watering move to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia

    Messi set to seal mouth-watering move to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia

    Argentina superstar, Lionel Messi’s move to Al-Hilal is sealed according to a report from L’Equipe

    The deal is said to be worth  £522 million annually.

    Messi will leave PSG as a free agent by the end of the season after he would have played for the club for two yeas.

    Recall that the Argentine joined PSG two years ago from Barcelona on a free.

    Messi signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 champions with an option for another year which both parties were initially keen on triggering.

    But Messi is set to leave PSG and join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League with a deal now agreed.

    Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Hilal’s rivals Al-Nassr, but Messi will now overtake him as the highest-paid footballer in the world.

    If Messi’s deal pulls through, he will be renewing his rivalry with Christian Ronaldo in the Saudi Arabian Pro league.

    Messi’s proposed clubside, Al Hilal presently enjoys the services of Nigeria forward, Odion Ighalo

  • Saudi Arabian club, Al -Hilal table €400m yearly contract for Messi

    Saudi Arabian club, Al -Hilal table €400m yearly contract for Messi

    Al-Hilal football club of Saudi Arabia have wooed Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, with a mouthwatering deal of  €400 million a year.

    Football transfer analyst Fabrizo Romano broke the deal on Tuesday night.

    He said that  the salary on the table for Messi is worth more than $438 million per annum.

    However, Messi is believed to be keen on continuing his career in Europe, with Barcelona waiting on Financial Fair Play to make their move.

    Romano tweeted: “Understand Al Hilal sent an official bid to Leo Messi: salary worth more than €400m/year.

    “Leo’s absolute priority: continue in Europe. Barcelona, waiting on FFP to send bid and open talks.

    “PSG bid, not accepted at this stage as Messi wanted sporting guarantees.”

    Messi is yet to renew his contract at PSG an inaction indicating he could leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

    If Messi eventually accepts the offer from Al Hilal, he will be teeming up with Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo and renewing his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo who already has 10 league goals for Al Nassr.

  • FIFA CWC: Real Madrid defeat Al Hilal 5-3, win fifth title

    FIFA CWC: Real Madrid defeat Al Hilal 5-3, win fifth title

    UEFA Champions League defending Champions, Real Madrid yesterday defeated Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 5-3 to emerge winners of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.

    The first 20 minute of the encounter produced two goals for the Galacticos, courtesy of  Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde, before Al Hilal pulled one back shortly afterwards through Malian forward Moussa Marega.

    Karim Benzema, back in the team after injury, then made it 3-1 to Madrid after 54 minutes and Valverde scored his second of the night to put Los Blancos 4-1 up before an hour had been played.

    But Al Hilal did not give in and former Atletico and Villarreal forward Lucas Vietto scored twice, before Vinicius added the 5th to put the game beyond reach for the Saudi-Arabian side 10 minute to the end of the encounter.

    Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who qualified as Champions League winners last season, had far too much attacking quality for their opponents to handle.

    The result meant that Madrid have won the tourney for the fifth time in their career and the only club ever to do so.

    The feat is also Madrid’s  second piece of silverware of the season, after winning the European Super Cup in August.

    Recall that Madrid also won the Intercontinental Cup (which preceded this tournament) on three occasions.

    “We are very happy, for the eighth time Madrid are champions of the world, it was what we had to do,” Ancelotti told Telecinco.

    “We’re happy, it was a good game. We had a lot of quality up front.

    “I think we were good up front, with Vinicius, Karim, Valverde, who got two, up top the team had mobility and quality.”

     

     

  • FIFA CWC: Real Madrid reach final to face Ighalo’s Al Hilal

    FIFA CWC: Real Madrid reach final to face Ighalo’s Al Hilal

    Real Madrid will face Ighalo’s Al Hilal in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup hosted by Morocco, the match will be played on Saturday.

    The Gataticos reached a record fifth FIFA Club World Cup final with a resounding 4-1 demolition of Africa’s  vice Champions,  Al Ahly of Egypt in Wednesday’s night semi-final encounter.

    Al Ahly had their fair share of chances in the game, but Madrid’s superior quality ensured that they led 1-0 at the break; and doubled the lead just after the interval.

    Al Ahly reduced the deficit on the stroke of 60 minute byt the reigning European Champions then responded  by adding two more goals to complete the demolition.

    Madrid broke the deadlock with Vinicius Junior’s dinked finish in the 42nd minute, before Federico Valverde gave the Champions League winners a 2-0 lead just after the interval.

    Al Ahly’s solitary goal was through Ali Maaloul’s penalty before Luka Modric saw a spot-kick of his own saved.

    But Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas got on the scoresheet in stoppage time to leave Madrid eyeing a record fifth world title.

    Mohamed Sherif and Mohamed Abdelmonem both went close for Al Ahly, before Vinicius tested Mohamed El-Shenawy from a tight angle.

    Rodrygo then hit the left-hand post from a similar situation soon after, but Madrid did net the opener, just prior to half-time.

    Al Ahly are winners of the Bronze medal matches, in 2006, 2019 and 2021; and the Red Devils will now hope to finish the 2023 tournament in Morocco on a high when taking on Flamingo of Brazil in the losers final.

    Meanwhile, Odion Ighalao’s Saudi Arabia clubside Al-Hilal defeated COMEBOL Champions, Flamengo of Argentina  3-2 in the other semi-final clash.

    This year’s final will be played between European champions and Asian Champions in Rabat on Saturday.

    Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo couldn’t get on the scorer’s sheet but played for about 60 minute before being subbed out.

    Chelsea won the last edition of the FIFA club World Cup.