Brazilian striker Neymar will not be ready to participate in the preparations of the Saudi Al Hilal star for the next season because he will not be able to play competitively until at least next September, according to Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus Al-Zaim.
Neymar (32) joined Al Hilal on a huge contract last August but injured his left cruciate ligament and meniscus in an international match for his country on October 17, ruling him out for most of the season. A streak of 34 matches was recorded against Al Hilal.
Jesus confirmed to reporters before the start of the training period for the club that won the domestic league this season that Neymar will not be ready for next season’s preparations.
Through the translator, “What I know now is that the time given for Neymar’s recovery and for similar injuries is 10 to 11 months” and continued: “If we calculate it mathematically, he will not be ready at the beginning. level of preparation”.
He added, “He will be competitively ready until September or October.”
Neymar injured the cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee before the end of the first half, and his country lost to Uruguay with two clean sheets in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The former Seleção captain will not be in his country’s squad for the 38th edition of the Copa America, which is scheduled to be played in the United States on June 20 and July 14.
On Tuesday, Neymar continued his rehabilitation in the gym at the club’s training facility in Riyadh and contented himself with watching his teammates do ball drills, according to an Agence France-Presse reporter.
Jesus admitted that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star’s absence caused problems for the team early on.
Al Hilal is the winner of the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi League and is unbeaten in 32 games, winning 29 (including 24 straight wins) and drawing 3. They have two games left to lift the trophy. Without defeat.
In addition, he became the first team to score 96 goals in one season and was the strongest defense in the league, conceding only 21 goals. This month They will be hoping for a third local title when they meet arch-rivals Al-Nasr in the 31st King’s Cup final.
Al Hilal’s hopes of a fourth title this season were dashed after they were knocked out of the continental competition by Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the semi-finals.