Reportedly Choosing A Career In Saudi Arabia, Neymar Has Been Targeted By Several Big Teams

Paris Saint-Germain player, Neymar. (Photo: Twitter/@neymarjr)

JAKARTA - Neymar's future is almost answered. After expressing his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he reportedly chose to join the Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal.

Neymar's future had invited a polemic. This is because many European giant clubs are also scrambling to get the Brazilian striker.

However, he reportedly received an offer from Al Hilal. The defending champion of the Saudi Arabian League is willing to spend 90 million euros or equivalent to IDR 1.5 trillion.

At his new club, Neymar is contracted for two seasons and will earn a salary of 320 million euros or equivalent to IDR 5.3 trillion.

Neymar himself has been in PSG uniform for six years. PSG signed him from Barcelona in 2017 for a fee of 222 million euros. Together with Les Parisiens, Neymar has collected 118 goals and 177 assists in 173 matches.

The Brazilian also won five Ligue 1 titles and a number of other domestic trophies. Neymar actually still has a contract with PSG until June 2025 with the option of an extension of one year. However, their togetherness could end sooner.

According to reports, Neymar asked PSG to sell it before the 2023 summer transfer market closed. Before finally agreeing to Al Hilal, here are the big European clubs who have hunted for the services of the 31-year-old player.

Chelsea

Chelsea is interested in attracting Neymar in this summer's transfer market. With their financial capacity, the Blues are said to be able to meet Neymar's salary demand.

It's just that Chelsea is also known to be restructuring player salaries and wants to lower the highest salary limit in Mauricio Pochettino's squad.

The changes that occurred along with the arrival of new owner Todd Boehly also targeted the structure of the player's salary. That's what Chelsea's influence finally withdrew to bring Neymar.

Barcelona

Barcelona had emerged to be a club that was rumored to be interested in recruiting Neymar. However, the financial condition of the Blaugrana is believed to make them not have enough power to return Neymar to Camp Nou.

If Barcelona were able to bring Neymar in, it would be a reunion moment because the player had defended the Blaugrana for four years and won many titles there.

Bayern Munich

This year Bayern Munich is in the middle of ambitions for the Bundesliga title. But that ambition is a problem for Bayern, whose front line is getting older and more prone to injury.

Especially with the condition of Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane who have difficulty staying fit, there is no reliable goalscorer in this team. With this factor, Neymar was considered a solution.

Even so, there is one big enough hurdle. Bayern, as they have stated several times, do not have the habit of paying large sums of money for players aged thirty years.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid have been wanting to bring Neymar in for a long time. However, the move of the Brazilian star to the Santiago Bernabeu never materialized.

Now Los Blancos are in need of additional ammunition up front. Carlo Ancelotti only had Joselu in the striker position after Karim Benzema's departure.

Neymar can improve the quality of Real Madrid's attack line. However, his arrival would cause a stir considering Neymar is a former Barcelona player.