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Despite Neymar Jr.’s Interest to Rectify ‘Mistake,’ Al Hilal Quashed His Chances to Return to Barcelona

Published 10/25/2023, 6:45 AM EDT

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In soccer, loyalty and club allegiances often take unexpected turns. One such twist occurred in the saga of Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. The 31-year-old forward joined Al-Hilal this summer after his anticipated exit from Paris Saint Germain. The Brazilian had been heavily linked with a return to his former club Barcelona in the summer. However, recently it has been revealed that Neymar’s return to Camp Nou was blocked by his current club Al-Hilal.

Neymar Jr. has confessed previously that he made a mistake in his career when he decided to leave Barcelona. But, despite his admittance, his current club Al-Hilal quashed all the chances for Neymar Jr. to make a successful return to his former club.

Al-Hilal’s surprising move to block Neymar Jr.’s Barcelona return

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Neymar Jr., after spending six seasons in the Ligue 1 with Paris Saint Germain, expressed his desire to leave the club last summer. After seven eventful years at Parc des Prince, the Brazilian star surprised the world by signing a staggering $218 million deal with Saudi League side Al-Hilal. However, before his agreement with Al-Hilal, Neymar was touted to make his return to Barcelona, where he spent four successful seasons partnering Lionel Messi. With Lionel Messi opting for a move to Inter Miami, the prospect of a Barcelona return for Neymar seemed tantalizing.

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As Neymar Jr. contemplated his Camp Nou comeback, the legal and financial details of such a transfer became a major obstacle. In a report by Sport, it was revealed that PSG, who heavily invested in the Brazilian forward, demanded a substantial transfer fee that Barcelona found difficult to meet, especially given their financial troubles. Apart from the transfer fee, Neymar’s astronomical wages further complicated the matter. As the parties reached an impasse, Al-Hilal emerged in the form of a serious contender.

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While there were rumors of Al-Hilal potentially purchasing the 31-year-old and then loaning him to Barcelona, that never became a serious consideration for them. Al-Hilal reportedly refused to entertain the option of loaning the player back, who cost them more than $100 million. This surprising move by the Saudi club dashed Neymar’s hopes of making his dream return to Barcelona.

The end of Neymar’s Barcelona dream?

Shortly after Neymar’s arrival at Al-Hilal, the soccer world received the disheartening news of the Brazilian’s latest ACL injury, while Neymar was on international duty with Brazil. This latest setback will keep him out of action, possibly for the entire season.

Neymar previously claimed that he ‘always wanted to come back’ to Catalonia, driven by the belief that he had made a huge mistake by leaving Barcelona. However, with his latest setback and his injury-prone career, a new layer of uncertainty surrounds his future.

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Though Neymar confessed and admitted his mistake in leaving Barcelona, due to his injury and his new club, it appears that the Brazilian’s return to Barcelona may never materialize. The question of whether Neymar truly believes he made a mistake remains unanswered. Only time will provide clarity on this matter.

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Written by:

Sahil Sharma

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Sahil Sharma is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. He's been a fan since childhood, but his love for the sport truly took off when Real Madrid won their record 10th UEFA Champions League title in 2014. That famous La Decima triumph turned him into a hardcore Madridista.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra