Neymar in Preliminary Talks With MLS Clubs About a Potential Move

Neymar playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018
Neymar with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018. Photo by James Marsh/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9381811ci)

Brazilian star forward Neymar is interested in continuing his career in the United States. He has reportedly already engaged in preliminary talks with three MLS clubs about a potential move in the summer.

Neymar is currently under contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal but will become a free agent in July. This means he can freely negotiate with other clubs and agree to a deal immediately. 

According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Chicago Fire FC is among the clubs currently talking with Neymar. Inter Miami, where his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez play, is not pursuing Neymar at the moment, considering the financial challenges.

While Neymar was linked with Inter on several occasions before, the club’s manager Javier Mascherano stated on several occasions that the move would be “impossible” due to salary restrictions in the league.

Neymar might be willing to lower his salary demands to play in Miami, which is his preferred destination according to sources close to the player, but he would expect handsome compensation if signed elsewhere. Reportedly, he is looking to equal or top Messi’s contract, which comes with $12 million in base salary and tops at $20 million with bonuses.

Neymar joined Al Hilal in 2023 in a $97.6 million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain but made little impact in Saudi Arabia due to a string of injuries. He only played seven games in all competitions, scoring one goal and adding three assists.

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