Al-Hilal's Neymar Expected to Miss Two Weeks with Injury

Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
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Al-Hilal's Neymar Expected to Miss Two Weeks with Injury

Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
Brazil's Neymar waves to fans during a training session in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)

Al-Hilal's Neymar is expected to miss two weeks with an injury.

Neymar made just his second appearance for the Saudi club following a 12-month injury layoff by coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute of Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

The former Barcelona star then pulled up after stretching for the ball with three minutes remaining and had to be replaced.

“Unfortunately, it is not a simple injury and he seems to be suffering from muscle pain and it is not a knee issue,” Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said Wednesday in a press conference in Riyadh. “He is expected to be out for two weeks.”

Neymar took to social media to update his fans.

“Hopefully nothing too much...” he wrote. “It’s normal that after one year (out) this happens, the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes.”

Neymar has played just seven games for the 19-time Saudi champion since signing in August 2023.

He is not currently registered to play domestic league games as the club has a full contingent of 10 foreign players, but is allowed to play in continental competitions.

A new registration window opens in January.



Mikel Arteta Angered by 2 Penalty Calls in Arsenal Loss at Inter

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions League football match between Inter Milan and Arsenal at the San Siro stadium in Milan on November 6, 2024. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions League football match between Inter Milan and Arsenal at the San Siro stadium in Milan on November 6, 2024. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
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Mikel Arteta Angered by 2 Penalty Calls in Arsenal Loss at Inter

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions League football match between Inter Milan and Arsenal at the San Siro stadium in Milan on November 6, 2024. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions League football match between Inter Milan and Arsenal at the San Siro stadium in Milan on November 6, 2024. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday was “very, very difficult to accept” after two penalty decisions went against his team.
The only goal of the game came just before halftime after Inter was awarded a penalty when a free kick into the area skimmed off Mehdi Taremi and onto Mikel Merino’s outstretched arm, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu converted from the spot.
Merino had a penalty appeal of his own rejected earlier in the match – after being checked by the video assistant referee – when he appeared to be punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer as they both went for a cross, The Associated Press reported.
“Well, I don’t understand, it’s just a deflection,” Arteta said on the penalty that was awarded against Merino. “There is no danger all, you cannot react because the ball is very close. But OK, they decide there is a penalty. But then if that’s a penalty, the one on Mikel Merino, you know, when he punches in the head, it has to be 1,000% a penalty. And these are the margins in this game and very, very difficult to accept.”
Çalhanoğlu’s penalty was the first goal conceded by Arsenal in the Champions League this season.
And Arteta felt his team should have got more from what he said was “by far the best (match) that we played in the last few years” in Europe.
Arsenal pushed hard for the equalizer but the Inter defense withstood wave after wave of attack.
“(I’m) extremely frustrated as well because there are two decisions that at the end marks the result and the course of the game,” Arteta said.