Maybe it’s easy to say in hindsight but as soon as Saudi Arabia embarked upon its summer spending bonanza, it was always likely Neymar would show up in the Gulf.
It’s no secret that PSG had been open to the prospect of the Brazilian leaving the club for some time and in the state-backed Al Hilal, the Ligue 1 side found the ideal business partner.
On Tuesday, Al Hilal confirmed the signing of Neymar from PSG in a deal worth a reported €90 million.
That’s a far cry from the world-record €222 million PSG paid to land the attacker from Barcelona six years ago, but for an oft-injured 31-year-old, it is still quite the return.
There were likely few, if any, clubs willing to pay nearly that amount, which will come as a huge relief for a club which just watched its own fans literally go to Neymar’s house and tell him to get lost.
It’s hard to say Neymar was a complete bust at PSG. That would be fairly harsh on a player who won seven major trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles, while scoring 118 times in 173 appearances.
But it is that number of 173 that will sting the Brazilian and PSG, a total that represents just over half of the available minutes since his arrival.
Another figure that will be especially painful is zero, as in the number of Champions League crowns PSG has won even after investing in the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
“It’s always difficult to say goodbye to a player as exceptional as Neymar, one of the best in the world,” said Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and CEO of PSG in a statement. “I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain and what he brought to our club and the project over the past six years. We lived great moments and Neymar will always be part of our history. I want to thank Neymar and his family. We wish Neymar the best for the future and his next adventure.”
Al-Khelaïfi would never say so publicly, but he is probably glad to say that Neymar is now part of the club’s history, rather than its present.
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