Neymar is not ready to return just yet, at least that's how his coach downplayed the high expectations surrounding the Brazilian star's comeback, after suffering a meniscus and ACL injury last October while playing for Brazil.

Although the Brazilian star joined Al-Hilal in August 2023, he only appeared in five matches before being sidelined and undergoing surgery. This allowed him to return to training in July.

Naturally, this sparked excitement about his return, but coach Jorge Jesus tempered expectations, saying it's unlikely Neymar will be back on the pitch soon.

"Neymar is an important player for Al Hilal and the league in general," said Jesus, who led Al Hilal to their 19th league title in May. "However, I can't specify a return date, but we'll assess the situation in January."

Neymar could be registered by Al Hilal in January for the second half of the season. Since Saudi Pro League (SPL) teams can register a maximum of eight foreign players over the age of 21, Neymar's spot in the squad for the first half of the campaign was taken by Marcos Leonardo, who was signed from Benfica in early September.

However, once Neymar regains full fitness, he will be eligible to participate in Al Hilal's ongoing AFC Champions League campaign, as the continental competition has no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed.

Neymar's contract with the club runs until August 2025.