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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Saudi chief backs Neymar after tough Al-Hilal spell</li><li>Made just seven appearances across two seasons</li><li>Neymar out of Brazil squad with a new thigh injury</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Can happen to anyone' - Saudi Pro League chief assures Neymar he 'wasn't a disappointment' at Al-Hilal despite only scoring one goal across two injury-plagued seasons

Serie A

Sao Paulo

Santos FC

Saudi Pro League

Al Hilal

Al Shabab

<p>Neymar endured a nightmare journey in the Saudi Pro League following his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023. After appearing in just five matches in the 2023-24 campaign, the Brazilian suffered an ACL injury while on national team duty and was sidelined for more than a year. He returned to action for Al-Hilal in October 2024 but subsequently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/doctors-warned-neymar-update-injury-al-hilal-return-acl/blt3c34165406afe597" target="_blank">picked up yet another injury</a> limiting his appearances to just two AFC Champions League matches in the 2024-25 season. In January 2025, the forward <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-al-hilal-drops-huge-bombshell-makes-savage-claim-brazilian-superstar/blt0ed420e3821de116" target="_blank">mutually terminated his contract with the Saudi champions</a> and headed back to his homeland to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-neymar-still-got-it-brazil-star-outrageous-skill-santos-show-fans-win/blt06f1545e0e74142d" target="_blank">sign for boyhood club Santos</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>While many consider the 33-year-old's move to the Middle East a complete disaster, the Saudi Pro League's general manager of marketing communications, Basrawi, assured Neymar that his time in Saudi Arabia was not a disappointment as injuries are part of football.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.marca.com/futbol/liga-arabia-saudi/2025/03/18/marca-liga-saudi-ojala-viniera-vini-cifras-dicen-son-exageradas.html" target="_blank"><em>Marca</em></a>, the Saudi official said: "Neymar came and went, and of course, he took many fans with him, who still follow him personally. But it wasn't a disappointment. What happened with Neymar is football, that's all. Injuries can happen. It was a serious injury at the start of his contract, and that can happen to anyone. We would have liked him to have played more, but that's football."</p>

WHAT MOHAMMED BASRAWI SAID

<p>Injuries continue to haunt the Brazil international as he has picked up a new thigh injury. Neymar was supposed to don the Selecao shirt after an 18-month hiatus in the March international break, however, his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-brazil-delay-santos-hero-long-awaited-return-to-dorival-junior-squad/blteb7b4aa5f13e93e4#cs5a6682b61fe3d6b4" target="_blank">return to the national team has now been delayed</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

'Can happen to anyone' - Saudi Pro League chief assures Neymar he 'wasn't a disappointment' at Al-Hilal despite only scoring one goal across two injury-plagued seasons | Goal.com

Saudi Pro League chief Mohammed Basrawi has assured Neymar that his injury-plagued spell in the Middle East &quot;wasn&apos;t a disappointment&quot;.

&apos;Can happen to anyone&apos; - Saudi Pro League chief assures Neymar he &apos;wasn&apos;t a disappointment&apos; at Al-Hilal despite only scoring one goal across two injury-plagued seasons

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