Neymar left Santos for Barcelona in the summer of 2013. Now the Brazilian is returning to his home club.
On Thursday, Neymar announced via Instagram that he would stay at Santos until June – and at the same time expressed his desire to play for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.
In an emotional statement, Neymar also gave insights into his emotional life. “It almost feels like I’m going back in time,” said the striker, revealing that he couldn’t wait until Friday to break the news of his move.
“My family and friends already know my decision. I will sign the contract with Santos. I want to thank the fans around the world who have really wanted this moment. Almost twelve years have passed since I left the most famous village in the world. And it seems like it was yesterday. My feelings for the club and the fans have never changed.”
Neymar now wants to regain his former strength in his home country – and “only a club like Santos can give me the affection I need to prepare for the challenges of the coming years. Only by playing football and doing what I love most in life will I be happy.”
According to O Globo, the fan favorite is scheduled to land at Guarulhos Airport on Friday, after which he will travel by helicopter to the city to sign the contract at the Vila Belmiro, before holding a show for the fans at the stadium that same afternoon.
65-million-dollar obstacle
The last thing standing in the way of an immediate return home was the $65 million still owed to the attacking player under contract, which he is now said to have waived. In Santos, which he left twelve years ago for Barcelona in the direction of his world career, he is initially only signing until the middle of the year. However, insiders believe that he will prepare for the 2026 World Cup at the Pele club so that father Neymar Senior. can take over the club as the majority owner of a football company.
Earlier, Neymar’s last club Al-Hilal had agreed to a contract termination “by mutual consent” despite a contract still valid for six months. Not least because they apparently had no further use for the 32-year-old: Neymar was not registered for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season.
“Neymar is no longer at the level we are accustomed to. Unfortunately, things have become difficult for him,” said Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus recently. ‘Thank you and good luck,’ was the only brief and concise message from the Saudi side via Instagram. Neymar is said to have waived his contractual entitlement to 65 million euros in order to make the move from the desert to his home country possible.
Neymar’s failure to help the reigning champions and cup winners is also due to the constant injury problems that have dogged him. A cruciate ligament rupture was followed by a serious thigh injury, which is why Neymar has only played seven games (one goal) for Al-Hilal in just over a year and a half. The current league leaders transferred a whopping 90 million to Paris St. Germain for the attacking player in the summer of 2023. There had also been rumors of a move to the USA to join Chicago Fire.
Neymar also led Santos to a major title
Neymar also won the Copa Libertadores with his youth club Santos in 2011, contributing significantly to the title win with six goals in 13 games. Neymar also won plenty of trophies with FC Barcelona, two championships, three cup victories and, to top it all off, the 2015 Champions League title. With Paris St. Germain, he was crowned champion five times and won the cup three times.
The only major trophy he has yet to win is with the Brazilian national team. The biggest success was the 2016 Olympic victory in his own country.