Saudi Pro League/Neymar faces possible exclusion from Al-Hilal’s squad due to….
Neymar Jr’s return to Al-Hilal’s training grounds last week was seen as a step forward in his recovery, but the Brazilian star may soon face an unexpected setback. Coach Jorge Jesus is reportedly weighing the possibility of excluding Neymar from the squad, at least until the start of 2025, due to the Saudi Pro League’s foreign player limit.
Clubs in the league are restricted to registering only eight foreign players, while Al-Hilal currently has nine on their roster.
Earlier reports indicated that Renan Lodi, the Brazilian left-back, might be the one to depart to comply with the quota. However, new information from Record suggests that Jesus may opt to leave Neymar out until December.
Neymar is expected to fully resume training in November but would only be available for three matches before the year’s end. Considering this, Jesus is reportedly leaning towards keeping Lodi, who has been an active part of the team, and reintegrating Neymar at the start of the next year.
This decision could put Neymar in a tough spot, as the forward is keen to make his comeback sooner rather than later.
His response to the potential exclusion remains to be seen, but the decision highlights the difficult choices facing Al-Hilal as they navigate their foreign player constraints.