Neymar: Brazil star in talks with MLS club Chicago Fire with Al Hilal spell almost over
2025-01-17
Category: sports

Chicago Fire are in talks over a surprise move to bring Brazil striker Neymar to Major League Soccer.The 32-year-old is out of contract with Al-Hilal in the summer after two years in the Saudi Pro League.The Eastern Conference side would be able to make the deal work financially and negotiations are continuing with the Pro League and Neymar's representatives, but sources have told BBC Sport the transfer is not close to being done and remains complicated.Neymar will not be registered for the second half of the Saudi season and it is now up to the player to make a decision on where he wants to play. The MLS transfer window opens from 31 January until 23 April. Fire had Neymar on their Discovery List. MLS clubs can have up to five players on their list, meaning no other side in the league can speak to, or sign, Neymar unless Chicago agree.Neymar joined Al-Hilal from Paris St-Germain in 2023 for a league-record Â£77million but he has made just seven appearances, scoring one goal.The former Barcelona striker tore his cruciate knee ligament in October 2023, which kept him out for a year.Former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are in the MLS with Inter Miami, who won the Eastern Conference last season, with Fire bottom.Al-Hilal are top of the Pro League, ahead of Al-Ittihad on goal difference, after beating Al-Fateh 9-0 on Thursday. Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo all currently play for the leaders.
What next for Neymar?
Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus has confirmed Neymar will not be registered for the league, restricting him to only Asian Champions League games for the rest of the season. He was not included in the squad for the first half of the campaign and his time in Saudi now appears over.It leaves Neymar, who won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Barcelona, and five Ligue 1 crowns with PSG, at a crossroads in his career.The high-profile move to Saudi has been a disaster for the 128-capped Brazil striker, who is also the country's record 79-goal top scorer.Jesus said: "The Saudi League is one of the best leagues in the world. All Al-Hilal players can play for any club in Europe. "Neymar can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately. He is still under contract with Al-Hilal and it may be up to him to decide his future. "It depends on the administration. I don't know anything about Neymar's future. We have a place available on the list, reserved for a player born in 2003 or later."