A screenshot of Neymar throwing his shoe after being substituted due to injury in the match between Al Hilal and Esteghlal at Kingdom Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 4, 2024.
Palmeiras president Leila Pereira dismissed rumors of Neymar joining the club, stating the superstar is not physically fit to play for the reigning Brazilian champions.
“I want to invest in someone who can come in right away, someone who could play tomorrow if the coach decides so,” Leila said in a press conference on Nov. 16. “Palmeiras is not a medical department. I won’t accept signing a player who can’t play immediately.”
The statement comes amid speculation of Neymar’s link to Palmeiras, currently second in the league after winning last season’s national championship. Neymar, who returned to play for Al Hilal in mid-October after a year of recovering from a knee injury, suffered a hamstring injury shortly after and is now sidelined until late 2024.
The 32-year-old forward’s contract with Al Hilal runs until June 2025, but he could leave in January 2025 if the Saudi club agree to a transfer.
Fans have expressed mixed reactions to Leila’s remarks. Many supported her stance, arguing Neymar is past his prime and frequently injured.
“Neymar should retire, although I don’t mean to disparage him,” one fan wrote on X.
Others, however, saw her comments as disrespectful to a player who holds the record for most goals scored for the Brazilian national team.
“Neymar should buy Palmeiras and put Leila in charge of the medical room,” another fan wrote.
Neymar used to be one of the best players in the world. The forward has scored 105 goals for Barcelona, 118 goals for Paris Saint-Germain and a record 79 goals for Brazil national football team. However, his move to Al Hilal in the summer of 2023 on a two-year contract with $110 million per year has faced criticism. He has only managed seven appearances and two goals for the club before injuries sidelined him for over a year.
Brazilian media reported that Al-Hilal will not renew Neymar’s contract when it expires in June 2025.
Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil was in October 2023 against Uruguay, where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. If he fails to regain fitness and form in time, he can miss the 2026 World Cup.
Apart from Palmeiras, Neymar has also been linked to his boyhood club Santos, where he scored 136 goals and won the Copa Libertadores. Santos, recently relegated, secured promotion by winning the second division, fueling speculation about a potential return for Neymar.
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