
Hilal’s Brazilian ahead Neymar heads the ball as he warms up forward of the AFC Champions League group B soccer match between UAE’s Al-Ain and Saudi’s Al-Hilal on the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in al-Ain on Oct. 21, 2024. AFP-Yonhap
Neymar has agreed to return to Santos almost 12 years after he left the Brazilian staff, membership president Marcelo Teixeira stated Tuesday.
The Brazil striker confirmed earlier that his contract with Saudi Arabian membership Al-Hilal had been terminated by mutual consent. He had an injury-marred spell at Al-Hilal, the place he performed solely seven matches and scored as soon as.
Neymar received six titles along with his boyhood membership Santos, together with a Copa Libertadores trophy in 2011. Santos is a beachfront metropolis exterior São Paulo.
“It’s the time (to return again), Neymar. It’s time so that you can come again to your individuals. To our house, to the membership in our hearts,” Teixeira stated in his social media channels. “Welcome, our boy Ney! A boy of Vila (Belmiro, Santos’ stadium). Come again to be comfortable once more with the white and black shirt. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms.”
Neymar, as soon as hailed as one of many world’s greatest gamers, spent a lot of his time in Saudi Arabia on the sidelines on account of an ACL damage he picked taking part in for Brazil in October 2023.
São Paulo media reported that the previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star is anticipated to return to Brazil this week and reintroduce himself to Santos followers inside days.
Neymar turned the most costly participant in soccer historical past when he transferred from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (then $262 million) in 2017.
Neymar’s spokeswoman, Day Franco, advised The Related Press the participant had no rapid remark.
Nevertheless, Neymar responded with a coronary heart gif to a submit of Kely Nascimento, one of many daughters of three-time World Cup winner Pelé, celebrating his return to Santos.
“(My father) have to be taking bicycle kicks in heaven after discovering out that our boy is coming again house,” Nascimento stated on Instagram. Pelé died in December 2022.
A video revealed by Al-Hilal on Tuesday night exhibits Neymar giving a farewell speech.
“Immediately I’m very comfortable to have the ability to go, return house. To my nation,” Neymar advised his former teammates, with out mentioning Santos. “It was a pleasure for me to play for this membership. It was a short while, issues weren’t as I anticipated. I couldn’t enable you on the pitch as I needed.”
Santos was relegated to Brazil’s second division in 2023 and was promoted once more within the newest season.
Neymar’s most up-to-date match was performed in November. Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus had repeatedly solid doubts concerning the striker’s type to play.
Neymar left the Saudi Arabian league after taking part in simply seven video games in 17 months following his big-money transfer to the oil-rich kingdom.
Al-Hilal stated Monday it reached an settlement with Neymar to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
“I gave the whole lot to play and I want we loved higher instances on the pitch collectively,” Neymar stated in a message on social media. “To Saudi, thanks for giving me and my household a brand new house and new experiences. I now know the true Saudi and have associates for all times.”

Hilal’s Brazilian ahead Neymar controls the ball as he warms up forward of the AFC Champions League group B soccer match between UAE’s Al-Ain and Saudi’s Al-Hilal on the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in al-Ain, Oct. 21, 2024. AFP-Yonhap
Regardless of Neymar’s damage, Al-Hilal nonetheless managed to win final season’s Saudi league. The Brazilian’s contract was on account of expire after this yr’s FIFA Membership World Cup, which shall be performed between June 15 and July 13 in the USA.
The striker joined the Saudi membership from PSG in August 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million). His wage was reportedly one of many greatest in world soccer as nicely.
However Neymar picked up his ACL damage taking part in for Brazil solely months after he joined Al-Hilal.
Neymar returned in October however stated in numerous interviews there have been doubts over whether or not he would keep for the remainder of the season.
Santos followers have already been anticipating Neymar’s return. Since final week, they’ve posted a video of a person with the voice of legendary three-time World Cup winner Pelé, who died in 2022 at age 82, asking Neymar to return and put on his historic No. 10 shirt.
In June, throughout a go to to certainly one of his social tasks in Brazil, the striker denied he was eyeing a return to the membership, calling the concept „a complete lie, there’s no plans. I’ve one other yr in my contract with Al-Hilal. I hope to play a fantastic season there. … Clearly Santos is the membership in my coronary heart, sooner or later I do wish to come again. However there’s no plan in my head.”
Earlier in January, Neymar made information for his feedback about former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé, who’s now at Actual Madrid.
Talking in a podcast hosted by World Cup winner Romário, Neymar stated the Frenchman turned “a bit of jealous” after celebrity Lionel Messi joined the French membership in August 2021. He additionally added that large egos affected the performances of PSG in large matches.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time prime goalscorer with 79 objectives in 125 matches, additionally stated he’s targeted on getting extra taking part in time so he can put together for the World Cup in North America subsequent yr in what might be his final shot at profitable the event. (AP)