Al-Hilal make Neymar Jr decision as they pick squad for AFC Champions League

Neymar Jr. has been unexpectedly included in Al-Hilal's squad for the AFC Champions League this season despite being out due to his injury for almost a year. The Brazilian picked up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October last year during Brazil's World Cup qualifier match against Uruguay.

Initial reports indicated that Neymar could return to action in October 2024. However, it appears that his comeback could take some more time, stretching up to January next year.

According to a report by Al-Riyadiya, Neymar Jr has been included in Al-Hilal's 31-man squad for the AFC Champions League. The AFC registration system allows a team to make changes in their squad up until five days before their opening match. After this period, the squad remains unchanged until the group-stage games are over.

Meanwhile, recent reports also indicated that Neymar might remain unregistered in the Saudi Pro League until the winter transfer window. Manager Jorge Jesus is counting on summer signing Renan Lodi instead.

The decision was reportedly made in light of the Saudi Pro League allowing only eight international players to be registered as a part of each team's squad. Since Neymar Jr was not ready to help the team at that time, Jesus preferred to revisit his case in January.

Al-Hilal are set to face Qatar’s Al Rayyan in their AFC Champions League opening game on September 17.

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"Neymar Jr has more passion for other things" - When Jorge Jesus made his feelings clear about the Brazilian

F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain - Source: Getty

In January this year, Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus appeared to take a dig at Neymar Jr for prioritizing his private life over football. The manager said (as per quotes by AS via Forbes):

"Cristiano Ronaldo has more passion for football and that's why he puts it as a priority. Neymar has more passion for other things and puts those other things, which is his private life, first."

However, Jesus clarified that he believes in the Brazilian forward's potential as a player, and added:

"But as a player he's fabulous. And as a man I was with him for a month and a half, he positively surprised me in everything. I had never worked with Neymar. We worked for a month and a half, no more. It's something out of the ordinary, it's out of the ordinary."

"And so we lost quality, at least offensively. He's an easy kid to lead, he's a very sweet and understanding kid."

Neymar Jr joined Al-Hilal for a reported $98.5 million from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023. However, the Brazilian could only feature in five games for the club, scoring one goal and three assists.