Neymar gestures throughout an Asian Champions League match between Al Ain and Al Hilal at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates on October 21, 2024. — Reuters
Neymar introduced Thursday he was returning to Brazilian membership Santos, the place he began his profession, after ending his injury-plagued spell with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
“I will sign a contract with Santos Futebol Clube,” the 32-year-old Brazilian footballer wrote on social media in a put up accompanied by photos of his previous with the Sao Paulo-based group, the place soccer icon Pele spent most of his profession.
“My feelings for the club and fans have never changed.”
Santos’ X account replied to Neymar’s put up, saying: “Your home awaits you. Your people await you.”
Neymar can be offered to followers in a ceremony on the membership’s Estadio Urbano Caldeira, that includes live shows by a number of native music stars, on Friday.
The previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain ahead performed simply seven occasions for Al Hilal regardless of a reported wage of round $104 million a yr.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time prime scorer, joined Al Hilal in August 2023, following fellow superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the Gulf.
However two months after his arrival in Riyadh, he ruptured a cruciate ligament in his left knee whereas taking part in for Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, which stored him on the sidelines for a yr.
He then suffered a collection of hamstring and knee accidents as he tried to return to motion.
The membership’s coach Jorge Jesus mentioned just lately: “He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”
Neymar’s return to Brazil is probably going the final probability of his faltering profession.
He has scored 79 targets in 128 matches for his nation.
Neymar had been courted by Main League Soccer (MLS) groups in america however has chosen to return house with the aim of incomes choice for the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, america and Canada.
“Now I need to play again,” he mentioned. “And only a club like Santos can provide the love I need to prepare for the coming challenges of the next years.”
He faces an enormous problem at Santos, who solely returned to the elite division in 2024 after a yr within the second tier.
Neymar will face a busy schedule punctuated by lengthy flights throughout Brazil, with the Sao Paulo State match, the Brazilian Cup and the nationwide championship which begins on the finish of March on this system.
The presence of such a giant title will entice big curiosity from Santos followers, however Neymar’s greatest days are nearly definitely behind him.
