Brazilian football superstar, Neymar Jnr, is reportedly nearing a return to his former club, Santos, according to sources close to ESPN.
Although Neymar is still listed as a player for Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, his future with the team is uncertain.
Al Hilal’s manager, Jorge Jesus, mentioned in January that Neymar “can no longer play at the level we are used to” and confirmed that the Brazilian forward wasn’t registered to play in the Saudi Pro League, making him eligible only for the Asian Champions League.
This situation has prompted Neymar to seek new opportunities, and it seems he is on the brink of rejoining Santos, the club where he began his professional career.
Sources indicated that Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal is likely to be terminated, though final negotiations are still ongoing.
The two sides are expected to meet early this week to finalize an agreement. Should the deal be completed, Neymar would sign a six-month contract with Santos, with an option to extend it for an additional year.
If the transfer goes through, Neymar is expected to travel to Brazil this week, and could be ready to play for Santos as soon as February 5.
By terminating his Al Hilal contract, which was set to run until this summer, Neymar would forfeit approximately $65 million.
However, reports suggest that Neymar and his father, Neymar Santos Sr., are exploring the possibility of joining an investment fund that holds shares in Santos, which could help make up part of the financial loss.
Reports also revealed that Neymar is determined to recover the money he would lose from his Al Hilal contract, meaning any potential deal involving shares in Santos would be challenging to arrange in the short term.
Despite these hurdles, a return to Santos seems increasingly likely, marking the end of a lengthy transfer saga.
Neymar was also linked with a move to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire FC, but his preference has always been to return to Brazil, where he hopes to regain his form and potentially secure a spot in Brazil’s national team again.
Neymar, 32, struggled during his time at Al Hilal after his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a hefty $97.6 million fee.
He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty shortly after joining the club, and though he made his return in October, a hamstring injury limited his impact.
Neymar made just seven appearances in the league and cup, scoring once in an AFC Champions League match against Nassaji Mazandaran on October 3, 2023.
While his time in Saudi Arabia may not have gone as planned, Neymar’s name remains one of the most recognized in football due to his accomplishments with Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, where he played alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
During his time at Barcelona, Neymar helped secure a UEFA Champions League title, two La Liga trophies, and three Copa del Rey victories.
Later, at PSG, Neymar added five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France wins, and two Coupe de la Ligue trophies to his collection.
Neymar’s career began at Santos in 2009, where he was instrumental in the team’s 2011 Copa Libertadores victory, scoring in the final against Peñarol. On the international stage,
Neymar has represented Brazil 128 times, scoring a record 79 goals, and played a crucial role in Brazil’s gold medal win at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro.
