Hiring a Saudi full-back would have stopped Lodi and made room for Neymar to return to the team this year
After running the risk of sitting out the season, Brazilian striker Neymar could return to the field this year. According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiah, Al Hilal could facilitate a swap of players registered in the local league. With only eight foreigners available, but with nine foreigners in the squad, Neymar, who had been suggested as a name to be excluded, could return to the team in place of another Brazilian, Renan Lodi.
According to local media, the decision was made after Al Hilal signed Moteb Al Harbi, a Saudi player who plays as a winger, the same position as Lodi. With a non-foreign player in the position, the situation would open up space for the elimination of the Brazilian full-back and the inclusion of Neymar in the list.
A deal for Renan Lodi is not ruled out. Although the window for major European teams closed last Friday, the 30th, some countries can still receive transfers, such as Portugal and the Netherlands.
Understanding the case
The Saudi Football Association sets a maximum limit of foreigners per team. Each team can have only eight foreign players registered in the national championship and two more born since 2003. Al-Hilal currently has nine names born outside the country, but none of them are under 21.
The signing of Portuguese full-back João Cancelo, formerly of Barcelona and Manchester City, meant the club exceeded the number of foreigners, which rose to nine with the arrival of the player. As a result, it was speculated that Neymar would be left out.
The Brazilian is still recovering from an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, which has kept him sidelined since October 2023. The logic would therefore be that coach Jorge Jesus can count on players who are fit and able to participate in the first half of the championship, which has already begun.
For Neymar to sign, a player would need to be sold, and that’s what could happen with Renan Lodi.
Source: Terra
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