Neymar has said an emotional farewell to his PSG teammates and staff as he prepares to finalise his £78 million move to Al-Hilal.
The French club published a video on social media of Neymar bidding goodbye at the PSG Campus on Thursday morning before joining the migration to Saudi Arabia.
Despite reports that the couple don’t get along, there was an embrace for Kylian Mbappe.
Neymar has negotiated a two-year contract with the Public Investment Fund-backed Saudi club, said to be worth £130 million per year, as he concludes his six-year spell in Paris.
After Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane all signed for Pro League clubs, the 31-year-old becomes the latest football great to be enticed to the Middle East.
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar managed a cordial handshake and embrace as the Brazilian star bid farewell to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of his £78million move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia
Rumours abound the pair don’t get along but they managed a quick hug on Thursday morning
On his farewell day at PSG, Neymar ran through a ‘tunnel’ of teammates and staff.
He turned down a return to previous club Barcelona on a loan with the chance to acquire him outright the following year.
Despite reports that they have a strained relationship, Neymar and Mbappe shared a parting hug.
The Brazilian liked an Instagram post that included an L’Equipe newspaper report alleging that the French forward had told PSG that there was ‘no more room’ for both of them at the club.
At the start of last season, rumours stated Mbappe was dissatisfied with Neymar’s influence in the dressing room, particularly with fellow crucial players Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
Mbappe also had to reject a ‘false’ allegation that he wanted Neymar, as well as then-coach Mauricio Pochettino and 12 others, fired from the club that summer.
Mbappe has returned to PSG amid his own contract dispute, having missed the club’s season opener against Lorient last weekend, a goalless draw.
He could play against Toulouse in their second Ligue 1 match this Saturday, the same night Neymar could make his Al-Hilal debut against Al Feiha.
Neymar was officially unveiled as an Al-Hilal player this week after completing his £78m move
The Brazilian star could make his debut in the Saudi Pro League this Saturday after his move
Neymar was contracted to the French champions until 2027 but has decided to try new things at the age of 31.
‘It is inevitably difficult to say goodbye to a legend of the club, which Neymar will be forever,’ PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said.
‘I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, nor what he brought to our club and our project over the past six years.
‘We have lived extraordinary moments and Neymar will always be part of our history.
‘I would like to thank him and his family. We wish Neymar the best for the future and his next adventure.’
Al-Hilal also made a world record bid of £259 million for PSG starlet Kylian Mbappe, who turned down the offer despite his terrible relationship with the French club.
This summer, the Saudis spent a lot of money on players including Ruben Neves from Wolves, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, and Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg.
Al-Hilal failed in their effort to lure Mbappe (right) from PSG as Neymar (left) made the switch
