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Tag: Al Hilal

  • Neymar and Al Hilal part ways as move to Santos looms

    Neymar and Al Hilal part ways as move to Santos looms

    Al Hilal announced on Monday that they had reached a mutual agreement with Neymar to terminate his contract, paving the way for his return to his former club, Santos, in Brazil.

    The Saudi Pro League club shared the news on social media, wishing Neymar success in his next chapter. According to ESPN, the Brazilian star is expected to sign a six-month deal with Santos, with an option to extend for another year.

    Reports suggest the announcement and unveiling could take place later this week, either Thursday or Friday.

    To make his move back to Santos possible, Neymar has agreed to forgo a large part of his remaining salary with Al Hilal. He is reportedly giving up between $25 million and $30 million of the $65 million he was due under his contract, which was originally set to run until next summer.

    Neymar, now 32, had a challenging stint at Al Hilal. After his $97.6 million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, his time in Saudi Arabia was marred by injuries.

    Shortly after joining, he tore his ACL while playing for Brazil, and though he returned in October, a hamstring injury further limited his contributions. Earlier this month, Al Hilal’s manager, Jorge Jesus, confirmed that Neymar was free to explore other options.

    With his move to Santos, Neymar is set to return to the club where he began his career, ready to restart in a familiar environment.

    Neymar played seven matches for Al Hilal, scoring once in an AFC Champions League game. Despite struggles in Saudi Arabia, he remains a football icon, known for his success at Barcelona (2013-2017) with Messi and Suárez, winning multiple trophies, including a Champions League.

    At PSG, he added five Ligue 1 titles and other domestic honors.

    He began his career at Santos in 2009, helping them win the 2011 Copa Libertadores and recently earning promotion to Brazil’s top league in 2024. Internationally, Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances and won Olympic gold in 2016.

  • Neymar returns to Al Hilal training after long injury sideline

    Neymar returns to Al Hilal training after long injury sideline

    Brazilian football sensation Neymar, aged 32, has resumed team training with Al Hilal on Monday, marking his comeback after almost a year sidelined due to a left knee injury.

    Neymar transferred to the Saudi club from Paris Saint-Germain in a high-profile move in August 2023, but his time on the field was limited to just five matches before suffering a rupture of his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the national team in October.

    “Happy to be back in the group,” Neymar posted on Instagram, with pictures of him running and kicking the ball, watched by Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.

    After surgery, Neymar resumed individual training in July. His return to competitive games will depend on “his technical readiness and the coach’s decision,” a club official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP.

    Brazil’s head coach, Dorival Junior, has called for patience regarding Neymar’s recovery as he has excluded the star forward from the squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru.

    Currently, Al Hilal, the reigning champions of the Saudi league, has not yet registered Neymar for this season of the Saudi Pro League, which commenced last month.

    Nevertheless, the former Barcelona star, earning approximately 100 million euros (£83.6 million) annually, is slated to participate in the AFC Champions League, Asia’s premier club competition.

    Even without Neymar, Al Hilal dominated the Saudi league last season, finishing unbeaten with 31 victories and three draws.

    The Riyadh club also achieved an impressive streak of 34 consecutive wins across all competitions before being halted in the Champions League semi-finals by Al Ain from the UAE.

  • Neymar’s return unpredictable – Al Hilal manager

    Neymar’s return unpredictable – Al Hilal manager

    Head coach of Al Hilal, Jorge Jesus, has indicated that Neymar is not yet prepared to make a quick comeback following nearly a year on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

    The Brazilian forward signed with the Saudi Pro League club in August 2023, but his time on the pitch was limited to just five matches before suffering a significant knee injury while representing his country last October, which included a rupture of his meniscus and ACL.

    After undergoing surgery, Neymar resumed training in July, leading to increasing speculation about his imminent return.

    However, in a post-match press conference, Jesus tempered those expectations, suggesting that the player still needs more time to fully recover.

    “Neymar is an important player for Al Hilal and the league in general,” Jesus, who led Al Hilal to a 19th league title in May, 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 will be able to be registered by Al Hilal in January for the second half of the SPL season.

    With SPL teams allowed to register a maximum of eight foreign players over the age of 21, Neymar’s place in the roster for the first half of the league campaign was taken by Marcos Leonardo, signed from Benfica earlier in September.

    However, upon his return to fitness, Neymar is eligible to appear in Al Hilal’s ongoing AFC Champions League Elite campaign, as the continental competition has no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed.

    His contract at the club is due to expire in August 2025.

  • Fatawu Issahaku to earn €10m annually if he joins Saudi’s Al Hilal

    Fatawu Issahaku to earn €10m annually if he joins Saudi’s Al Hilal

    Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku is reportedly attracting interest from Saudi club Al Hilal, with a tempting offer that could see him leave the Premier League.

    Al Hilal is rumored to be preparing an enticing deal that would see Issahaku earn an annual salary of €10 million.

    This potential move comes at a time when Issahaku is still adjusting to life in the Premier League after playing a crucial role in Leicester City’s recent promotion.

    Despite his positive start, which included an assist on his Premier League debut, the financial pull from Al Hilal may prove difficult to resist.

    Leicester City, who signed him permanently from Sporting Lisbon for €17 million earlier this summer, could be open to the idea of selling the 19-year-old if the right offer comes along.

    Issahaku had a challenging time at Sporting Lisbon, struggling with confidence and form.

    However, his move to Leicester saw a resurgence in his performance, where he scored six goals and provided 13 assists in the Championship, significantly contributing to the club’s return to the Premier League.

    Currently valued at €10 million, Issahaku signed a five-year deal with Leicester, but the potential Saudi offer could see his market value rise.

    As of now, he is on international duty with Ghana, preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

  • Al Hilal sets new record with 28 straight wins

    Al Hilal sets new record with 28 straight wins

    Al Hilal made history by securing their 28th consecutive win after defeating Al Ittihad in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.

    This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous record of 27 consecutive wins held by Welsh Premier League team The New Saints during the 2016–17 season.

    Al Hilal’s victory, a 2-0 triumph over Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad, also earned them a spot in the Asian Champions League semifinals with a convincing 4-0 aggregate score.

    “This is truly an incredible achievement and I want to thank everyone at the club for their part in this momentous winning record,” Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said.

    “As I have said throughout this period, however, records do not matter as much as trophies. It is up to everyone at Al Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. Only then can we truly celebrate.”

    Jesus added that he doesn’t know if he will continue in charge next season.

    “I don’t know my future,” he said. “I have a contract with Al Hilal until the end of June. In football, everything changes very quickly. What I want most now is to continue winning with Al Hilal. Now that we have the [Asian Champions League] semifinals, we are also well placed in the championship. Then we’ll see.”

    Despite losing Neymar to an ACL injury in October, Al Hilal remains dominant in the Saudi Pro League, holding a commanding 12-point lead over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.

    Alongside three other clubs, Al Hilal was taken over by the Saudi state’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF) in June 2023.

    The team’s success has been propelled by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s exceptional scoring ability, with the Serbian striker netting 29 goals in 28 league and continental competition appearances.

    Key contributions from players like Kalidou Koulibaly, Rúben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have also been instrumental in their impressive run.

    This streak includes 16 victories in the Saudi League, three in the domestic cup, and eight in the Asian Champions League.

    Al Hilal’s last non-winning result was a 1-1 draw against league rival Damac on Sept. 21.

  • Neymar’s Al Hilal secures a draw with a late goal

    Neymar’s Al Hilal secures a draw with a late goal

    In Riyadh on Monday, Al Hilal managed to salvage a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in the Asian Champions League, thanks to Ali Al-Bulaihi’s equaliser coming 10 minutes into stoppage time.

    This match marked Neymar’s first start for the Saudi Pro League side.

    The Saudi Arabia international defender, Al Bulaihi, rose to head in a cross from Brazilian winger Michael, cancelling out Toma Tabatadze’s earlier strike in the 52nd minute of the Group D encounter.

    It appeared that Samvel Babayan’s team was heading for an unlikely victory before Al Bulaihi’s late goal.

    Neymar, who arrived in Saudi Arabia with much fanfare over the summer, was in the starting lineup for the first time following his €90 million ($96 million) move from Paris Saint-Germain.

    However, he faced frustration throughout the match.

    The game looked destined to end in a defeat for Neymar and his team until Al Bulaihi’s header, which came during more than 14 minutes of injury time, finally ended Navbahor’s determined resistance against their expensively assembled opponents.

    In the Asian Champions League, only the group winners among the 40 participating teams are assured of progressing to the last 16.

    Currently, Al Hilal is trailing debutants Nassaji Mazandaran in the early group standings.

    The Iranians currently lead the group after securing a 2-0 victory over India’s Mumbai City in Pune, with goals from Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammad Reza Azadi in each half.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad had no difficulties in Group C, as they comfortably won 3-0 against AGMK from Uzbekistan, even though coach Nuno Espirito Santo did not include former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in the squad.

    Al Ittihad’s perfect start in Jeddah began with Haroune Camara’s 11th-minute goal after goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev’s save. Four minutes later, Romarinho doubled the lead with a composed close-range finish.

    The Brazilian then added a third from the penalty spot just before halftime, following a foul on Abderazzak Hamdallah in the area by Dilshodbek Akhmadaliev.

    Al-Ittihad now leads the table, as Air Force Club played out a 2-2 draw with Sepahan from Iran, with 19-year-old Ali Jassim scoring twice for the Iraqi side in Erbil.

    In addition, Nasaf Quarshi from Uzbekistan secured a late 1-0 win over Jordan’s Al-Faisaly to top Group B ahead of Qatar’s Al Sadd and Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates, who played out a goalless draw.

  • Al Hilal signs Black Queens goalkeeper Cynthia Konla

    Al Hilal signs Black Queens goalkeeper Cynthia Konla

    Goalkeeper of the Black Queens, Cynthia Konlan, has signed a contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal women for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

    This notable transfer sees the Ghanaian goalkeeper securing a one-year loan deal with Al Hilal after her tenure with Maltese outfit Swieqi United FC.

    Konlan’s contributions have been pivotal within Coach Nora Hauptle’s freshly formed Black Queens squad.

    Expressing their well-wishes, Swieqi United FC, the Maltese team, extended their good luck to her and acknowledged her instrumental role in clinching the Knockout Championship during the previous season.

    The club’s full statement on Facebook reads:

    “An Exciting Journey Ahead! Senior Women’s goalkeeper, Konlan Cynthia, is embarking on a new adventure for Season 23/24 moving on Loan to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia!,”

    “Cynthia, who has been an integral part of our team for a year, holds a special place in our hearts and around the club. Her contribution was vital in clinching the Knockout Competition title last season.

    “As Cynthia sets off on this exciting new chapter, we send her our best wishes and endless support. We are confident that she will keep shining on the international stage. These are the opportunities we always wish for our players. Good luck, Cynthia!”

  • ‘Hard to say goodbye, I will never forget’ – PSG president on Neymar’s Al Hilal move

    ‘Hard to say goodbye, I will never forget’ – PSG president on Neymar’s Al Hilal move

    President and CEO of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has offered his response to Neymar Junior’s historic transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.

    Following a six-year tenure at PSG, Neymar departs, leaving behind an impressive record of 13 trophies won and 118 goals scored in 173 matches.

    His accomplishments have solidified his place as the fourth-highest scorer in the club’s history.

    At the age of 31, Neymar joins the ranks of prominent stars who have transitioned to the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr being a notable example.

    As reported by talkSPORT, the Brazilian international is poised to receive a substantial salary at his new club, with estimates suggesting he could earn approximately £138 million per season.


    “It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world, he said, as quoted by the club’s official website.


    “I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain and what he has contributed to our Club and our project over the last 6 years. We had a great moment, and Neymar will always be a big part of our history.


    “I would like to thank Neymar and his family. We wish Neymar all the very best for the future and his next adventure.”


    He will link up with Ruben Neves, former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and compatriot Malcom at the Riyadh-based club.


    Why Neymar moved to Al-Hilal


    Sports Brief also reported on Neymar explaining the reason behind his unconventional yet courageous decision to switch from the European football scene to the riches of Saudi Arabia.

    The Brazilian clarified that his move to the Middle East was driven by his ambition to transform into a ‘worldwide player,’ placing greater emphasis on personal development than financial gains.

    Furthermore, he emphasised his eagerness for ‘new challenges and promising opportunities in diverse settings’ as an added incentive influencing his decision.

  • Mbappe’s plot allegedly forcing Neymar’s departure from PSG

    Mbappe’s plot allegedly forcing Neymar’s departure from PSG

    Neymar Dos Santos Jr., the Brazilian superstar, is on the brink of ending his five-year tenure at Paris Saint Germain (PSG) with an impending move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.

    As per a report from Brazilian outlet Globosport, Kylian Mbappe, the French international and World Cup champion, orchestrated a clever strategy to prompt PSG to put Neymar on the transfer market.

    Allegedly, he engaged social media figures, including John Honesty (@ExJohnHoonestyy), to propagate his desire to depart the club.

    The report suggests that Mbappe’s objective was to aid in Neymar’s departure from the club and have Dembele take his place.

    After spending much of his summer training in isolation due to his refusal to extend his contract, Mbappe returned to full training shortly after the club announced the acquisition of Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona.

    John Honesty’s account has been deactivated as Neymar’s move to Al Hilal appears to be nearing completion, and Mbappe resumed training after expressing his willingness to discuss a contract extension following Dembele’s signing.

    Meanwhile, Neymar is a step away from finalising his transfer to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

    During the pre-season, Paris Saint-Germain excluded Mbappe from their squad preparations after contract extension negotiations hit a snag.

    French media reports indicated that PSG suspected the 24-year-old had reached an agreement to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

    Mbappe inked a three-year contract with PSG in the 2022 summer transfer window. The deal consists of an initial two-year term with an option for an additional year, as reported by Sky Sports.

    Initially set to initiate discussions with other clubs in January 2024, after PSG failed to activate the contract extension clause, the breakdown of talks resulted in his absence from PSG’s opening match against Lorient. However, his return suggests that he is on the verge of extending his contract.

  • Another Saudi swoop fails after Atletico reject bid for Felix

    Another Saudi swoop fails after Atletico reject bid for Felix


    Relevo reports that Atletico Madrid has turned down a loan bid for Joao Felix from Saudi club Al Hilal.

    The unsettled Portugal forward is keen on leaving Atletico during this summer transfer window and has publicly expressed his interest in playing for LaLiga rivals Barcelona.

    Coach Diego Simeone has left him out of the preseason games.

    According to Relevo, Al Hilal made a substantial offer to secure Felix on a season-long loan, covering his wages entirely.

    However, Atletico is more inclined towards a permanent deal.

    They report that Felix prefers to stay in Europe, but he hasn’t ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia either. Negotiations are set to continue in the coming days.

  • ‘Oga go chop life for Saudi, take the money’ – Nigerians call Osimhen to go for Saudi’s €1m a week deal

    ‘Oga go chop life for Saudi, take the money’ – Nigerians call Osimhen to go for Saudi’s €1m a week deal

    Nigerians on various social media platforms are advising Victor Osimhen to seriously consider accepting the highly lucrative €1 million-per-week deal from Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal.

    The consensus among many is that this offer has the potential to be a life-changing opportunity, and thus, Osimhen should take inspiration from his fellow Super Eagles teammate, Odion Ighalo, who previously made a similar move to Hilal.

    If the Nigerian striker agrees to join the Saudi Pro League side, he could potentially earn a staggering €52 million annually.

    According to Sky Sports, Hilal has also put forward a substantial €140 million as a transfer fee to Napoli.

    However, reports from Italian outlet Il Mattino suggest that both Osimhen and Napoli have rejected the offer on the table.

    It’s worth noting that the Italian club, Napoli, who are open to cashing in on Osimhen, are reportedly holding out for a fee of €150 million.

    Al Hilal’s pursuit of Osimhen comes after their unsuccessful attempt to secure the services of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.

    Checkout some reactions below

    He should take it. Poverty is not an option.

    — Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) July 31, 2023
    He should take it he should not try to chase glory of winning European trophies that is for European players…take the money, be rich forever simple

    — ANATHii (@Nathi_manando) July 31, 2023
    Almost 1b naira every week, grab it victor grab it ????

    — Nwadike Ifeanyi (@ifeanyi_nwadike) July 31, 2023
    — Slimfit (@iSlimfit) July 31, 2023
    Me:When VICTOR OSIMHEN signs the deal to Move to Saudi Arabia to earn €1m a Week. pic.twitter.com/nEP0Q1lSj5

    — ➰FRANKPRENUER➰ (@Thefranknation) July 31, 2023
    Abég…how old is Oshimen now.
    You know African retired early
    Oga go chop life for Arab.. just carry me along I no mind

    — Adekunle suraj (@suraj_adekunl) July 31, 2023
    life is very short take your chances and enjoy it while you can,48m / season is better than winning italian league 3 times in a raw

    — ⓓⓞⓝ ⓜⓞ7ⓐⓜⓜⓐⓓ⏱ (@DONMO7AMMAD) July 31, 2023
    In as much as I love to see Osinmeh dominate European football the more, I will be selfish to say he should turn down an offer that will pay him Billions of Naira a month!

    He should follow the money for now… that’s what’s good for him.

    — Femi Oguntayo ???? (@FemiOguntayo2) July 31, 2023
    He’s better off playing in Europe

    — Rahamon Kabiawu (@Kabiawu_) July 31, 2023
    Stay in Europe and do what? No be the same football? The trophies won’t matter as an African when you retire

    — Jeff ???? (@so_katman) July 31, 2023
    That man should be in Saudi already    . As Africans we need to get that money invested at home .

    — The Over taker???? (@kiizarogic) August 1, 2023
    He should stay money is not everything ????????????????

    — Abdul Rahman Medal Abubakar (@MedalRaman) July 31, 2023
    U ended up saying let’s be realistic. To be realistic means to go to saudi

    — loshanti (@loshantii) July 31, 2023
    1m a week?
    Osimhen please go ????

    — ???????????????????????? (@keyzeeto_) July 31, 2023

  • Asamoah Gyan reacts to Osimhen’s Al Hilal links

    Asamoah Gyan reacts to Osimhen’s Al Hilal links

    Ghanaian football legend, Asamoah Gyan is expressing his support for Victor Osimhen to consider a move to Saudi Arabia after the Napoli striker was linked to Al-Hilal.

    The Saudi Pro League club reportedly made a substantial offer of €140 million for the Nigerian forward, but Napoli turned down the bid.

    Following the news of Al-Hilal’s interest in Osimhen, social media erupted with reactions and opinions.

    Ghanaian sports journalist George Addo Junior, associated with the BBC, shared a report on Twitter, prompting a response from Gyan.

    The former Black Stars striker, who has previous experience playing in the Middle East with Al Ain and Shaba Al Ahli, used a curious emoji that seemed to imply encouragement for Osimhen to consider a move to Saudi Arabia.


    The former Ghana international left Sunderland at the peak of his career to play in in the United Arab Emirates.

    Gyan announced his retirement from football recently after almost two decades with the national team of Ghana, as reported by the BBC. He holds the record of being the African player with the most goals at the FIFA World Cup.

    Meanwhile, Osimhen is yet to decide on his future after a heroic campaign with Napoli last season. The Super Eagles forward led the Italian side to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

    Al-Hilal interested in Osimhen


    Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Saudi club, Al-Hilal reportedly offering Napoli €140 million (£120.3mil) for the signature of Osimhen.


    Reports have suggested the Italian club want nothing less than €150mil before considering any negotiation with the 24-year-old striker.

    It was estimated that Osimhen, a former forward with Lille in France, would earn a massive £1mil per week if the deal pulls through.

    Africans who joined Saudi league
    Sports Brief also reported on the top 4 Africans joining the Saudi Pro League after reports that Sadio Mane would join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

    The Portuguese veteran sparked a chain of signings and has helped attract other big-name players, such as reigning Ballon d’Or holder, Karim Benzema.

  • Kelvin Andoh joins Libyan side Al Hilal SC

    Kelvin Andoh joins Libyan side Al Hilal SC

    Ghanaian forward, Kelvin Andoh, has made a lucrative move to Libyan topflight team, Al Hilal SC Benghazi ya Libya.

    The former Asante Kotoko player has inked a two-year contract worth $260,000 with the club, which is also renewable.

    The deal aims to bolster Al Hilal SC Benghazi’s performance in both domestic football and continental competitions.

    Taking to Twitter, Andoh expressed his delight after completing the transfer.

    In the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup, Andoh and his new team are set to face Kenyan side Kakamega Homeboyz in the first round. Should they advance, they will take on Rwanda’s Rayon Sports in the subsequent stage.

    Notably, Andoh played a crucial role in helping Wa All Stars secure the Ghana Premier League title in 2016, showcasing his talent and abilities on the field.

  • PSG gives Al Hilal green light to begin talks with Mbappe after 300-million-euro bid

    PSG gives Al Hilal green light to begin talks with Mbappe after 300-million-euro bid

    Paris Saint-Germain has granted Saudi club Al Hilal the permission to enter into talks with Kylian Mbappe according to a source close to the negotiations.

    This comes after Al Hilal submitted a staggering world record bid of 300 million euros ($333 million) for the talented footballer.

    Al Hilal, based in Riyadh, made a formal offer through a letter, but it’s important to note that any potential transfer can only occur with the agreement of Kylian Mbappe himself.

    As of now, Mbappe has not shown any interest in moving to the rapidly developing Saudi league.

    “The club has given permission to Al Hilal to speak with Mbappe. That’s the request of the letter and that’s been granted,” the source said.

    Mbappe has one year left on his contract with PSG, who want him to leave now rather than for nothing next summer.

    But Mbappe, 24, is refusing to sign a new contract and the French champions believe he has already struck a deal to move to Real Madrid next year.

    The source said Real Madrid were among a group of clubs which had also expressed an interest in Mbappe.

    “In the group so far that have expressed their interest there are Manchester United, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Tottenham and obviously the Saudi club and Real Madrid,” the source said.

  • ‘Premature retirement’ – Gary Lineker reacts to Al-Hilal’s bid for Mbappe

    ‘Premature retirement’ – Gary Lineker reacts to Al-Hilal’s bid for Mbappe

    The football world was stunned when Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal made an official bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar, Kylian Mbappe.

    Mbappe and his current club are currently in a contract stand-off, with reports suggesting that he is willing to let his contract run out until next summer.

    This situation has put PSG in a difficult position, leading them to contemplate the possibility of selling their prized asset during this transfer window.

    Many clubs have expressed interest in signing the Frenchman, but transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano revealed that Al-Hilal has officially submitted an astounding €300 million [£260m] bid for the 24-year-old, surpassing the previous world record fee set by Neymar at €222m [£191m].

    To add to the magnitude of the bid, CBS journalist James Benge reported that Al-Hilal is prepared to offer Mbappe an astonishing salary package of €700 million [£604 million] for just one year.

    These reports have caused a flurry of reactions on social media, with fans and pundits alike expressing their astonishment at the potential transfer deal.

    Amidst the buzz, 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner, Gary Lineker voiced his opinion, suggesting that should Mbappe make the move to Al-Hilal, it might put his career on hold.

    Al-Hilal submit huge bid

    In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Al-Hilal have reportedly submitted a world-record bid to sign wantaway Paris Sain-Germain superstar, Kylian Mbappe.

    The France international was left out of the squad for the team’s pre-season tour of Japan on Friday and put up for sale after months of tension between him and the club’s hierarchy.

    Al-Hilal have submitted a bid worth €300 million in order to open talks with the Ligue 1 champions.

    Mbappe told to leave PSG

    Sports Brief also reported that Mbappe has been told to leave the club by former director Leonardo in an absurd tirade.

    The World Cup winner recently refuted claims that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer, but the rumour simply refuses to go away.

    Leonardo, a former director of the French giants, has now stated that Mbappe should leave the club because PSG will still exist without him.

  • Saudi side Al-Hilal successfully grabs Jorge Jesus as new manager

    Saudi side Al-Hilal successfully grabs Jorge Jesus as new manager

    Renowned Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, has been reappointed as the manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.

    This marks his return to the club after leaving in 2018, during which he had an impressive record of 16 wins and only one defeat in 20 matches.

    Despite the club’s attempts to secure Jose Mourinho and Max Allegri as their manager, Jesus finalized his move to Al-Hilal.

    Prior to his time in Saudi Arabia, Jesus achieved significant success with Flamengo, including winning the Copa Libertadores.

    Under his guidance, the team triumphed in the Turkish Cup, securing the club’s first trophy in nearly ten years. Additionally, he propelled the Istanbul giants to a notable second-place finish in the Turkish Super League, Al Jazeera reports.

    Hilal’s busy transfer

    In addition to appointing a new manager, The Blue Waves have strengthened their squad by securing the services of Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and the highly sought-after midfielder Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    Al-Hilal’s lofty 2023-24 expectations

    Jorge will be tasked with utilizing his extensive experience as the club aims to reclaim the Saudi League title from their sworn rivals, Al-Ittihad, in the upcoming season.

    Additionally, as the former Benfica boss successfully ended Fenerbahce’s nine-year trophy drought, expectations are high for him to guide the club to a similar or improved performance in the FIFA Club World Cup, building on last year’s campaign where they narrowly missed out on the ultimate prize, falling to Real Madrid in the final.

    Chelsea defender joins Al-Hilal

    Sports Brief earlier reported that Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his move from Chelsea to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

    The 32-year-old signed a three-year deal to join the Saudi Blues after agreeing to leave London club Chelsea after just a season.

    Koulibaly becomes the second signing from England in the summer transfer window by the Saudi giants, joining Ruben Neves, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    Top stars who left Europe early

    Sports Brief looks at seven other players, including Brazilian star Oscar, who may have left European leagues too early.

    Wolves captain Ruben Neves is only an official announcement away from completing a mega switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

    At 26 years of age, fans have questioned the move, but it is not the first strange move of his career. He left Porto to join Wolves in the Championship after becoming the youngest captain in the Champions League.


  • Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly completes transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal

    Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly completes transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal

    Senegalese defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, has finalized his transfer from Chelsea to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.

    The 32-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Blues, opting to depart from Chelsea after only one season.

    Koulibaly becomes the second acquisition from England for the Saudi giants during the summer transfer window, following the arrival of Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers.


    “Coming From the Strongest League in the World.. “Koulibaly”.. The Senegalese Player is Hilaly,” wrote Al-Hilal on Twitter, confirming the arrival of the defender.

    The AFCON 2021 winner is expected to play a pivotal role for Al-Hilal, who will face competition from the likes of Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad in the league.

    Both teams have made big signings, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema moving to the Middle Eastern nation.

    “From my first game to my last, it was an honour to wear this badge. Last season wasn’t the one we wanted, but I want to thank the fans and everyone at the club for your support,” wrote Koulibaly on Twitter, as he confirmed his Chelsea departure.

    Koulibaly commissions Senegal hospital project

    Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Koulibaly has returned to his parents’ hometown in Ngano, Senegal.

    The Blues’ centre-back arrived to a heroic welcome after years of plying his trade in Europe, where he was born.

    Although he was born in France, Koulibaly decided to represent Senegal at the senior level, helping the country win its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021.

    Addo joins Red Star Belgrade

    Black Stars midfielder Edmund Addo has joined Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade in the summer transfer window.

    The 23-year-old signed a four-year deal to join the treble winners from rivals Spartak Subotica.

    Addo, who was part of the Black Stars team for the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar on Sunday, has been on the radar of Red Star since last season.

  • Urawa emerge victorious in Asian Champions League after defeating Al Hilal in the final

    Urawa emerge victorious in Asian Champions League after defeating Al Hilal in the final

    In the final second leg of the Asian Champions League on Saturday, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan beat the defending champions Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia 1-0, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory and winning the championship.

    The only goal of the game came from an own goal by Al Hilal’s Andre Carrillo in the second half.

    Urawa’s win in front of a home crowd of almost 55,000 fans in Saitama, near Tokyo, gave them their third Asian title. In the opening leg of the final last week in Riyadh, the two teams drew 1-1.

    Despite Al Hilal’s strong first-half pressure, Urawa held on to win against a team that was seeking a record fifth continental title and a third in four seasons.

    The decisive moment came when Carrillo turned a header from Urawa’s Marius Hoibraten into his own net amid strong wind in the 48th minute, before a determined rear-guard effort from the home side saw out the result and sent the crowd into delirious celebrations.

    The two teams were meeting in the final of Asia’s premier club competition for the third time in six years. Urawa won in 2017 but Al Hilal came out on top two years later.

    Al Hilal were without injured captain Salman Al Faraj and suspended star winger Salem Al Dawsari, who was sent off late in the first leg for kicking out at Urawa’s Ken Iwao.

    Al Hilal manager Ramon Diaz made three changes from the first leg, dropping Malian striker Moussa Marega and bringing in experienced Peruvian Carrillo, while Urawa were unchanged.

    The Saudi side had an early chance when Odion Ighalo broke clear in the box, only for Urawa defender Alexander Scholz to block his shot on the line.

    Al Hilal’s Michael also had a scent of goal midway through the first half, but Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa got down quickly to parry his shot.

    Urawa came even closer to opening the scoring against the run of play when Shinzo Koroki, who scored his team’s goal in the first leg, hit the bar with a flying volley on the half-hour mark.

    Nishikawa again had to be alert to keep out a long-range Carrillo effort with the first half winding to a close, before Urawa’s Yoshio Koizumi pulled a shot wide of the post at the other end.

    Urawa made the perfect start to the second half when a floated free-kick from around the half-way line found Hoibraten, whose wind-assisted header found its way over the line via Carrillo’s boot.

    The Japanese side enjoyed far more possession from then on and Atsuki Ito almost added a second goal when he shot just wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

    Al Hilal posed far less attacking threat in the second half and Nishikawa was on hand to deny Ighalo when the Saudi side did create a chance late in the game.

    The final was taking place more than a year after the Asian Champions League season began, with delays because of the winter World Cup in Qatar and travel complications arising from the Covid pandemic.