KEIR RADNEDGE COMMENTARY —- Neymar has followed the yellow brick road to Saudi Arabia’s superstars extravaganza. They deserve each other: the player who has consistently put before money before status and the soccer operation which believes it can use the one to buy the other.

The Brazilian’s transfer from French champions Paris Saint-Germain to record Saudi champions Al Hilal will make him the only player to ever amass €400m in transfer fees. Neymar had the fledgling talent to become the greatest player on the planet; instead his career has been marred by the distractions generated from his own brilliance.

That said the 31-year-old is Brazil’s joint-top scorer alongside Pelé, with 77 goals in 124 matches and has won has 28 major club prizes with Santos, Barcelona and PSG as well as leading Brazil to their one and only Olympic Games football gold medal as hosts in 2016.

His individual brilliance was never better demonstrated than in the superb goal he claimed for Brazil on their way to a shootout defeat by Croatia in the World Cup in December.

Al Hilal have reportedly agreed a two-year deal with PSG worth €90m to the Qatari-owned French club and €160m to the player. He is expected, after medical clearance, to be presented to Al Hilal fans in the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Wednesday. Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the No10.

Neymar, who joined PSG in 2017 from Barcelona for a still-standing world record fee of €222m, missed their French league opening draw against Lorient on Saturday because of what was officially described as a “viral infection.”

The Brazilian thus follows Leo Messi out of the French capital after scoring 118 goals in 173 appearances.

PSG chief executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi told the club’s official website: “It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world

“I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris St Germain, and what he has contributed to our club and our project over the last six years. We had a great moment and Neymar will always be a big part of our history.

“I would like to thank Neymar and his family. We wish Neymar all the very best for the future and his next adventure.”

Al Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for league and Asian Champions League titles, with 18 and four respectively. They are one of four clubs directly controlled by the Saudi Public Investment Fund along with league champions Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Nassr.

Neymar will join other veteran superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) and Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli).

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