'Best player I've worked with' - Jorge Jesus backtracks on Neymar criticism as 'frustrated' Al-Hilal boss admits Santos star had 'no luck' in Saudi Arabia

Neymar made a high-profile switch to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023, leaving Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €90 million (£75m/$93m). However, his spell in Saudi Arabia was severely disrupted by injuries. After featuring in just five matches, the 33-year-old suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Neymar returned in the following campaign, but his comeback was short-lived, as another injury setback once again forced him onto the sidelines.

Jesus initially suggested that Neymar "can no longer play at the level we are used to." However, the Portuguese coach has now admitted that he was "frustrated" by how things unfolded, acknowledging that Neymar was simply unfortunate rather than past his best.

Softening his stance on Neymar, Jesus in an interview with Canal 11, said: "I had no luck at all, neither he nor I. He was at Al Hilal with a very serious injury. He was the best player I've worked with since I became a coach. We didn't have much time to show everything he had. A good professional, a good friend, he's not a star.

"But the truth is that things didn't work out. Sometimes, talking to myself, frustrated, I even think 'how come I didn't manage to get this player, who is a superstar, to do well?' But whatever. These things happened. If he left, it had to be for Brazil. He's going to help the national team a lot."

The former PSG star has admitted he left Al-Hilal feeling hurt, particularly by Jesus’ assessment that he was no longer capable of performing at the top level.

Jesus said in response: "Did he leave sad? He did, especially with me. It still hurts me today because he is a star. He is outside the box."

Despite rumours linking him to a reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez at Inter Miami, Neymar instead opted for a six-month contract with boyhood club Santos. The move has been seen as an attempt to rediscover his form and fitness, with the Brazilian aiming to represent his country at the 2026 World Cup.