My man Neymar!
Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal have agreed on a mammoth $98.6 million (€90m) deal for Neymar to join the Middle Eastern side, according to Fabrizio Romano.
It was reported Sunday that the Brazilian and Al Hilal were close to agreeing on personal terms. A day later, and they’ve now reportedly agreed on a two-year contract with Neymar having the option for a third.
All joining Al Hilal earlier this summer, Neymar will connect with new teammates Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Along with Al Nassr, Al Ittithad and Al Ahli, Al Hilal is one of four clubs who were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in June as a part of the nation’s “Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project.”
Since then, Saudi Pro League clubs have been aggressive in their pursuit of bringing soccer’s biggest superstars to the country, offering some of the most lucrative contracts in the history of sports to do so.
Neymar is now the latest.
🚨🤑 Some of the perks Neymar will experience because of his move to Saudi Arabia:
🛩️ A private plane at his disposal
🏠 A huge house with staff
💰€80,000 bonus for every Al-Hilal win
📱 €500,000 for every post or story he puts on his social media that promotes Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦… pic.twitter.com/CjRUumqdqn— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 14, 2023
Two things: 1. Congratulations to Neymar for getting that bag, and 2. Saudi Arabia has some swag.
Say what you want about them politically and on their social beliefs — and believe me, I’ve got my own issues on that side — but when it comes to sports and wanting to dominate the world of athletics, the Saudis definitely got some swag.
It reminds me of what’s going on here in the United States that has sparked up an American soccer movement, courtesy of the G.O.A.T. Lionel Messi who is doing his thing in South Beach. And that’s just in terms of soccer. We dominate the Olympics, the NFL is an international force, you know where I’m going with this. (RELATED: ‘They Had A Really Big Mouth’: Netherlands Star Blasts USWNT After Embarrassing Exit Out Of Women’s World Cup)
Saudi Arabia is actually just repeating our greatness, just in their own swag — and I can dig it.
But don’t get it twisted … the United States of America will always remain top dog.