AL-HILAL TO DE-REGISTER NEYMAR AS SAUDI PRO LEAGUE SIDE EYE NEW SIGNING

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Al-Hilal are reportedly preparing to de-register Neymar from their squad for the rest of the season.

The Brazil star completed a £78m move to the Saudi side in August from PSG, signing a two-year deal worth £130m-per-season.

However, last month he suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Brazil in their 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in World Cup qualifying.

Subsequent tests revealed Neymar had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee, with the Brazilian set to miss the rest of the campaign and facing a race against time to recover ahead of the Copa America in the United States next summer.

And now, according to Saudi Arabian outlet Arriyadiyah, Al-Hilal are planning to temporarily suspend his registration due to the injury.

Saudi Pro League (SPL) rules state each team can only register eight non-Saudi players in their squad.

The report claims Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus is keen to reinforce his team in January, with the Portuguese coach wanting to sign a foreign left back.

And, following discussions between him and the club’s hierarchy, Neymar will now not be part of the squad until he recovers from injury, with Al-Hilal already having eight foreign stars.

The aforementioned players currently registered are Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Brazilian pair Malcolm and Michael, along with Neymar.

Despite his big-money move, Neymar’s latest injury troubles came after a mixed start to life in the Middle East, with the 31-year-old having scored just once in five games for Al-Hilal.

However, they are currently top of the SPL and are four points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

The Saudi side are back in action on Friday afternoon when they host fourth place Al-Taawon.