Neymar will not return from his anterior cruciate ligament injury until January 2025 at the earliest, Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus has warned.

Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Hilal in a €90million deal in August 2023, becoming one of the faces of the Saudi Pro League's major recruitment drive.

However, he only played five matches for the club before rupturing his ACL while on international duty with Brazil last October.

The 32-year-old subsequently missed the remainder of the season as well as the Selecao's ill-fated Copa America campaign, and he remains some way away from a return.

Neymar was removed from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League squad in September, with the 19-time champions only able to register a maximum of eight foreign players for the first half of the season.

Reports had suggested Neymar was close to a return after Al-Hilal posted footage of him training on social media, but Jesus says Brazil's all-time leading scorer must wait until the halfway point of the campaign before being considered.  

"Neymar is an important player for Al Hilal and the league in general," Jesus told reporters on Tuesday. 

"I can't, however, specify a date as to when he will return, but we will look at the situation in January."

With no restrictions on foreign players featuring in the AFC Champions League, Neymar could, in theory, play in that competition if he returns to fitness before January. 

Jorge Jesus says Fenerbahce have no chance of signing Cristiano Ronaldo as the Manchester United forward wants to play in one of the 'big five' leagues.

The Red Devils are reportedly open to offers for the Portugal captain, who only returned to Old Trafford from Juventus last September.

Ronaldo was on the bench for United's 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening game of the Premier League season, before starting in the chastening 4-0 thrashing at Brentford last Saturday.

The prolific forward's future has long since been the subject of speculation and Fenerbahce are among a host of clubs said to be keen to sign him before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Fenerbahce head coach Jesus has ruled out any possibility that the prolific 37-year-old could be on his way to Turkey.

He said: "Yes, I'm a friend of Ronaldo, But he doesn't want to come, he has other ideas.

"I think he doesn't want to play in any league other than one of the big five."

Asked if he thinks Ronaldo will stay at United, the Portuguese replied: "I know that he will not play for Fenerbahce."

Mesut Ozil will not be rescued from the Fenerbahce wilderness by Jorge Jesus, the new boss of the Turkish giants said on Friday.

Former Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker Ozil has a contract that runs to the end of the 2023-24 season but was banished from first-team duties in March.

Reports claimed that decision came after a dispute with interim head coach Ismail Kartal, and Ozil may have hoped the appointment of Jesus would change his circumstances.

Yet a return to action for Fenerbahce seems as far away as ever after former Benfica and Sporting CP boss Jesus declared Ozil does not figure in his plans.

"What you have achieved in the past in football is very important. Mesut Ozil has a very important past, but the club has made a decision about him, and he will continue in the same way," Jesus said at a news conference held to announce his arrival.

Jesus added, according to Turkish news outlet Hurriyet: "The important thing here is not Jorge Jesus, Mesut Ozil or any other person. Fenerbahce is important."

Fenerbahce signed Ozil from Arsenal in January 2021 after he fell out of favour with the Premier League club, with the deal considered a major coup at the time.

After a second-placed finish in the 2021-22 Super Lig, Fenerbahce are hoping to bring in four or five new players, said club president Ali Koc, who added: "We will focus on players who will be decisive offensively."

They might have hopes of offloading Ozil, but the 33-year-old former Germany international said this week he has no intention of leaving the Istanbul giants.

Ozil wrote on Instagram: "I repeat with emphasis; I will not end my career in a team other than Fenerbahce.

"This decision is very clear and final. As per the requirements of professional life, if our management takes a decision about me, I will only respect this attitude. I will work hard and always keep myself ready."