Neymar confirms return to boyhood club Santos

Brazilian sensation Neymar informed Santos officials and players that he would be leaving Al-Hilal in 2025 and going back to Brazil, as reported by UOL Esporte, which referenced an unnamed Santos board member.

Report informs via foreign media that Neymar raised the Campeonato Paulista trophy to a thunderous cheer on Sunday night, just before his childhood team Santos defeated Palmeiras 1-0 in the first leg of the Sao Paulo State Championship Final.

The 32-year-old had an ACL tear during Brazil’s 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in October, and he has not been seen on the field in an official role since.

Prior to that, he secured an expensive transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal, but he only managed to make five starts for the Pro League team overall.

Neymar is anticipated to make a comeback when the European club season of 2024–2025 begins. But after finishing the second of his two-year deal in the Middle East, he reportedly already knows where he’s going next.

According to UOL Esporte, Neymar swiftly went through Santos’ Vila Belmiro dressing room and told the players “that he is returning to play in the Brazilian Championship in 2025.” This was Neymar’s first club.

Neymar’s admission to a Santos board member was later verified by UOL, which is in line with his earlier threat to act in this manner when he visited the team the previous year.

If Neymar lives up to his expectations, it will mark his first game back in his own country since 2013.

That year, he competed in the Campeonato Paulista as well. After completing a transfer to FC Barcelona for an estimated $93 million (€86.2 million), he began his European career.

Neymar previously spoke with David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, who presently has the Brazilian’s former Barcelona colleagues Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba on his squad. Neymar has also expressed interest in competing in the United States at some point.