The head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal has confirmed that Brazilian star Neymar is not yet ready to make his return to the field after undergoing surgery for a knee injury. Neymar, 32, joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 but his playing time was cut short after just five games due to a ruptured meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained while on international duty in October.

While speculation had been circulating about Neymar’s imminent return to action after resuming training in July, coach Jorge Jesus has tempered expectations during a recent media conference. Jesus emphasized Neymar’s importance to the team and the league but refrained from providing a specific timeline for his comeback, suggesting that the situation will be reassessed in January.

Neymar will become eligible for registration by Al-Hilal in January, allowing him to potentially feature in the second half of the Saudi Pro League season. The team had to make adjustments to their roster for the first half of the league campaign, with Neymar’s spot being filled by Marcos Leonardo, who was signed from Benfica in September.

Despite not being available for domestic league matches initially, Neymar could still participate in Al-Hilal’s ongoing AFC Champions League Elite campaign. Unlike the domestic league, the continental competition does not impose restrictions on the number of foreign players a team can field.

Looking ahead, Neymar, whose contract with Al-Hilal runs until August, will continue his recovery and rehabilitation process under the guidance of the coaching staff. The Brazilian forward will be eager to make a strong comeback and contribute to his team’s success both domestically and on the continental stage.