Neymar has arrived in Saudi Arabia after agreeing a deal to maneuver from French aspect Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi Professional League.
The ahead landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid Worldwide Airport having departed PSG to affix Al-Hilal.
He was photographed boarding a largely empty jumbo jet in Paris and later touchdown within the Center Japanese nation.
The 31-year-old was carrying a cream tracksuit and a big diamond-encrusted cross as he left for the the conservative Islamic nation.
On his arrival, he draped an Al-Hilal scarf round his shoulders as he was greeted and was given a bouquet of flowers by his hosts.
Neymar agreed a £86.3m deal to affix the Saudi Professional League earlier this month, including to the record of huge names to depart Europe for the fabulously well-paid Arabian competitors.
He spent a while signing autographs for followers as he made his manner by means of the airport.
The ahead wore a shawl from his new membership, Al Hilal
The Brazilian will take residence £129.2m a 12 months in Saudi Arabia, in response to Sky Sports activities Information – six instances the quantity he earned at PSG.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane are among the many soccer stars to have additionally made the transfer to the Saudi Professional League.
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The star was handed a bouquet of flowers
He paused to signal autographs
“I imagine Cristiano Ronaldo began all of this and all people referred to as him ‘loopy’, and this and that. As we speak you see the league develop an increasing number of,” Neymar stated in his first interview after the switch on Wednesday.
“It’s thrilling, assembly top-quality gamers on the opposite groups thrills you and motivates you to play even higher. And it’s a given if you face Ronaldo, Benzema, (Roberto) Firmino, that the thrill is even higher,” he added.
Neymar gained 5 league titles throughout his time in France with PSG however did not carry the Champions League to Paris, regardless of reaching the ultimate in 2019-20. He beforehand gained the Champions League with Barcelona in 2014-15.
Regardless of being one of many world’s most proficient gamers, he has additionally thus far did not win main honours with Brazil and his time at PSG was disrupted by accidents and off-the-field controversies.
His departure has been seen as ending an period of PSG signing soccer’s superstars, with Lionel Messi additionally leaving this summer time to play for Inter Miami within the US.
Nevertheless, regardless of a record-breaking bid from Saudi Arabia earlier this summer time, French star Kylian Mbappe is anticipated to remain in Paris.
Neymar’s new membership, Al-Hilal, is one in every of 4 Saudi golf equipment to have been successfully nationalised by the state-run Public Funding Fund (PIF), which claims property of about £550bn.
They embody the LIV Golf sequence that challenged the PGA Tour earlier than the 2 organisations agreed to affix forces.
PIF is chaired by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose ambitions in world sports activities have change into a signature coverage.