NEYMAR is on the verge of hitting the jackpot with his mega-money move to Saudi Arabia - but he plans 💰 to devote his career to POKER when he retires from football.
The Brazilian superstar has undergone a medical at Al-Hilal ahead 💰 of a stunning £2.7million-a-week transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
3 Neymar is on the verge of a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia 💰 Credit: AFP
3 The Brazilian plans to play poker professionally when he hangs up his boots Credit: Poker Stars
The 31-year-old, who 💰 at £198 is the world’s most-expensive footballer, informed PSG last week that he wants to leave.
He was not in the 💰 squad for their Ligue 1 opener versus Lorient at the weekend with boss Luis Enrique now keen to cash-in on 💰 him, having made it clear to the club that he wants to build a younger team.
Neymar had asked his representatives 💰 to find him a new team and his father has reportedly had meetings with Al-Hilal.
The Saudi side appear to have 💰 convinced him to join as various sources are claiming that he is having a medical before penning a two-year deal.
The 💰 deal could be completed in the next two days after a fee of £86.3m has allegedly been agreed.
He is now 💰 closing in on a switch to the Middle East where he will be hoping to justify his huge wages with 💰 more successes on the pitch after lifting trophies across Brazil, Spain and France.
But he already has plans for once he 💰 hangs up his boots after previously revealing his love for playing poker, and he hopes to turn professional.
He made the 💰 revelation after taking up a role as cultural ambassador for PokerStars having joined the team in 2024.
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Neymar said: "It's true I plan to turn pro. I feel very comfortable playing 💰 poker, and think I can play in major tournaments after my football career is over.
"I began playing during the 2014 💰 World Cup, and I have fallen in love with the game.
"I play poker in an aggressive fashion. My favourite hands 💰 are a pair of tens - after my shirt number - and Jack-Five.
"There are similarities between football and poker, in 💰 the ways how you read your game and your opponent, and choose when to attack.
"I used to play it a 💰 lot while with Barcelona, and we play often at PSG.
"I make myself hard for my opponents to read, although I 💰 play too many hands.
"The first time I got a pet dog I named him 'Poker' as I love the game 💰 so much.
"Every time I sit down to play I aim to win - whether it is with friends, online or 💰 in a tournament."
3 Neymar is the cultural ambassador for PokerStars
Neymar has had lessons from leading Brazilian poker pros Andre Akkari 💰 and Rafa Moraes.
The forward added: "Poker is so much more than just the game, it is a community and a 💰 culture and that is what I love about it.
"I am excited to start this next chapter with PokerStars, and we 💰 are already collaborating on a number of key areas.”
Neymar became the world’s most-expensive player back in 2024 when PSG forked 💰 out £198m to sign him from Barca.
He has not played since March after going under the knife for reconstructive ankle 💰 ligament surgery.
Now he looks set to have ex-Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly, former Wolves ace Ruben Neves and £60m winger Malcom 💰 as team-mates once he is fit to return to action.
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