Neymar has paid an emotional farewell to team-mates and staff at Paris Saint-Germain as the Brazilian star prepares to complete his £78million move to Al-Hilal.
The French club released a social media video of Neymar saying goodbye at the PSG Campus on Thursday morning as he joins the exodus to Saudi Arabia.
There was even an embrace for Kylian Mbappe, despite suggestions the pair don’t get along.
Neymar has agreed a two-year deal with the Public Investment Fund-backed Saudi club, understood to be worth £130m-a-year as he brings to a close his six-year stay in Paris.
The 31-year-old becomes the latest football superstar to be lured to the Middle-East after the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane all signed for Pro League clubs.
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
Neymar ran through a ‘tunnel’ of PSG team-mates and staff on his final day with the club
He rejected a return to former club Barcelona on an initial loan with the option to buy him outright next year.
Neymar and Mbappe shared a farewell hug despite suggestions they share a frosty relationship.
The Brazilian liked a post on Instagram that featured a L’Equipe newspaper report claiming the French forward had told PSG there was ‘no more room’ for both of them at the club.
At the start of last season reports suggested Mbappe was unhappy with Neymar’s dressing room influence, especially with fellow key players Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
That summer Mbappe also had to deny a ‘fake’ story he wanted Neymar, as well as then-coach Mauricio Pochettino and 12 others, axed from the club.
Mbappe has been restored to the PSG fold amid his own contract stand-off with the club having missed their season opener against Lorient last weekend, a goalless draw.
He could be involved when they play Toulouse in their second Ligue 1 game this Saturday, the same evening 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 offer of £259m for PSG superstar Mbappe, who rejected the move despite his poor relations with the French club.
The Saudi side have spent big this summer on the likes of 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
