Neymar agrees to go to Saudi Arabia

PARIS, France (AP):

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football superstar Neymar has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to join Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.

France's leading sports daily L'Equipe, said on its website yesterday that the PSG and Brazil forward will receive a total of EU160 million (US$175 million) over two seasons. No details were given about the transfer fee for Neymar, who has also been linked with a return to Barcelona.

The Associated Press has asked defending French champion PSG to confirm the deal. The request was not immediately answered.

Neymar's current contract with PSG runs until 2025.

Neymar missed PSG's season-opening 0-0 draw against Lorient in the French league on Saturday after training alone on Friday, with the club saying it was because he was recovering from a viral infection. But Neymar is heading for a PSG exit and could leave during the summer transfer window.

The 31-year-old Brazilian joined PSG from Barcelona for a world-record fee of EU222 million (now EU244 million) six years ago, the same year Kylian Mbappe joined from Monaco in a deal worth EU180 million.

PSG had already received a world-record US$332-million bid from Al-Hilal for Mbappe, who is in the last year of his contract and has been mired in a transfer stand-off. Mbappe, who reportedly refused to meet with representatives from the Saudi club when they were in Paris last month, has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid next season on a free transfer.

Tensions between Mbappe and PSG eased a little on Sunday after he was allowed to return to training, following "constructive and positive talks" between the two parties.

Mbappe sat out Saturday's draw with Lorient after being left out of training. Midfielder Marco Verratti was also not selected by new coach Luis Enrique and has been linked with a move to the Saudi league after joining PSG in 2012.