Neymar Makes His Grand Return to Santos, His Beloved Club
Santos president, Marcelo Teixeira, extended a warm welcome to Neymar, who is returning to the Brazilian club where he first rose to prominence before leaving in 2013. In a video posted on Instagram, Teixeira stated, “The moment has come, Neymar. It’s time for you to return to your roots, to your home, to our beloved club. Welcome (…). Be happy again. The Santos nation is waiting for you with open arms.”
This announcement comes after Neymar’s contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal was mutually terminated following a season marred by a serious knee injury he suffered in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay. The 33-year-old Neymar played only seven matches for Al-Hilal after his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 for around 90 million euros.
Despite being sidelined from the pitch for several months, Neymar remains a key figure for the Brazilian national team, and head coach Dorival Junior has expressed his intention to count on him for upcoming competitions, contingent on his physical condition.
Neymar left Santos in 2013 to join FC Barcelona in a transfer that made headlines globally. Since then, he has made history with the Brazilian national team, participating in the World Cups of 2014, 2018, and 2022, and has already expressed his desire to compete in his final World Cup in 2026. In 2017, he signed with PSG for a record fee of 222 million euros, forming a legendary attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona, with whom he won the Champions League in 2015.
