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After playing just seven games in Saudi Arabia, Neymar announced on social media that he is officially leaving Al-Hilal, a club where injuries prevented him from making an impact. A High-Profile Signing Turned Costly Investment What once seemed like one of the most significant signings in football has now become one of the sport’s worst investments. Yesterday, Neymar Jr. confirmed his departure from Al-Hilal, the Saudi club that paid €90 million for him in August 2023. However, he managed to play only seven matches before injuries derailed his stint in Saudi Arabia. Neymar’s Farewell Message On social media, Neymar expressed his gratitude to the club, the fans, and the country while also lamenting his inability to play more matches. “To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans: Thank you! I gave everything to play, and I wish we could have shared more moments together on the pitch. To Saudi Arabia, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences. Now, I truly know the Saudi people and have made lifelong friends. I always felt your love and passion for the game. I will follow your journey as a club and as a country towards 2034. Your future will be incredible, and special things are happening. I will always support you!” A Spell Marked by Injuries Neymar’s lack of playing time was due to injuries that kept him from performing at the level that once made him one of the world’s best players with Barcelona, where he played 225 matches and scored 132 goals. When Al-Hilal signed him, Neymar was still recovering from ankle surgery. He then suffered muscle issues that kept him sidelined, only to later sustain a devastating ACL tear, effectively ending his time at the club for over a year. A Return to Brazil? Now, strong rumors suggest that Neymar’s next destination could be a return to his boyhood club, Santos FC, in Brazil.

A historic Champions League matchday is upon us. On Matchday 8 of the tournament’s new format, all 18 matches will kick off simultaneously, promising a rollercoaster of emotions. A Historic Champions League Matchday Today is unlike any other, as the UEFA Champions League will stage its final matchday in the new league format with all 36 teams playing at the same time. With 18 matches kicking off simultaneously, at least 25 clubs are still fighting for something in this decisive round. This marks the first time in over two decades that all final-round Champions League matches will be played simultaneously. However, never before has the scale been this massive, with all 18 matches set to begin at 2:00 p.m. Mexico City time. The Key Matches to Watch Among this wave of matches, several standout games will capture the world’s attention. Barcelona vs. Atalanta will be crucial, as its outcome directly impacts another European giant—Real Madrid, who must defeat Brest and hope for an Atalanta loss to secure a top-eight spot and qualify directly for the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Liverpool will aim to finish as the overall leader when they face PSV, who are fighting to secure a playoff spot. Other clubs battling for direct qualification to the Round of 16 include Arsenal, who take on the already-eliminated Girona, Inter vs. Monaco, Atlético Madrid against Salzburg, AC Milan vs. Dinamo Zagreb—a team still hoping for a playoff spot—, and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Sparta Prague, another eliminated side. Meanwhile, teams still vying for a top-eight finish and depending on results elsewhere include Feyenoord, led by Santiago Giménez, who face LOSC Lille, another contender for a direct knockout berth. Germany’s two biggest clubs, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, will play against already-eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk and Slovan Bratislava, respectively. Elsewhere, with far slimmer hopes, Juventus will attempt to break into the top eight against Benfica, who must win to secure a playoff spot. Finally, among Europe’s elite, PSG will fight to keep their playoff position against Stuttgart, who have the same goal. Meanwhile, Manchester City, currently outside the playoff spots, face Club Brugge, a team desperate to maintain its playoff standing. With such an action-packed matchday, there won’t be a single moment to blink—one goal in any of the 18 matches could change the fate of a team, deciding whether they advance directly, enter the playoffs, or fall out of contention altogether.

Tottenham Hotspur are experiencing one of their worst moments in the Premier League. The member of the so-called “Big Six” of England lost 1-2 at home against Leicester City, in a match where they started winning at 33′ with a goal by Richarlison, to end up losing it in four minutes, with goals by Jamie Vardy at 46′ and Bilal El Khannous at 50′. Tottenham, closer to relegation than to the top places This defeat not only meant dropping three points at home, but also fundamental points to climb positions in the overall table of the Premier League, as they are currently fifteenth with 24 points, being only 8 points away from the relegation places, while the European places are 16 points away, which is undoubtedly a serious crisis for the club. Tottenham have only managed a single point in their last seven league games, their last victory in England being against Southampton on December 15 last year, more than a month ago. Cover photo: X (@SpursOfficial) 

AC Milan secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Parma in an electrifying match at San Siro. In the first half, Matteo Cancellieri gave Parma the lead in the 24th minute, but Christian Pulisic equalized before halftime with a penalty in the 38th minute. In the second half, Enrico Del Prato restored Parma’s lead in the 80th minute, putting Milan in a difficult position. However, the home team pulled off a stunning comeback in the final minutes: Tijjani Reijnders scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, and Samuel Chukwueze clinched the victory in the 95th.  With this win, Milan climbs to seventh place with 34 points, while Parma remains in 16th with 20 points.   You might also like: Manchester City Back on the Winning Track   Cover image: X(@acmilan)