Neymar is not ready for a quick return to play for Al-Hilal, the head coach of the Saudi Arabian club announced.
The Brazilian star joined the Riyadh team in August 2023 but only played five games before needing surgery after injuring his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while on international duty in October.
After Neymar, 32, began training again in July, there was speculation that he was close to returning. However, coach Jorge Jesus lowered expectations during a post-match press conference.
“Neymar is an important player for Al-Hilal and the league in general,” Jesus said on Tuesday. “I can’t, however, specify a date as to when he will return but we will look at the situation in January.”
Neymar can be registered by Al-Hilal in January for the second half of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) season.
SPL teams are allowed to register a maximum of eight foreign players over the age of 21, so Neymar’s spot in the roster for the first half of the season was filled by Marcos Leonardo, who was signed from Benfica earlier in September.
Once he is fit again, Neymar, whose two-year contract ends next August, will be eligible to play in Al-Hilal’s ongoing AFC Champions League campaign, as there are no limits on the number of foreign players allowed in that competition.
