Neymar returns to Santos: I didn't think so...

2025-02-01 15:02:00, Sport CNA

After a long adventure in European football and a brief stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, Neymar has returned to Santos. After 12 years, the Brazilian club welcomes back one of the greatest players in its history, a player who not only grew and developed at Santos, but also gave the club one of the most glorious moments in its history.

This return has been unexpected, even for the player himself. In his first words, Neymar admitted that he had not thought of such a scenario a few months ago.

"In January I didn't imagine that I would return to Santos, or leave Al Hilal, that's the truth. I was happy there, my family was happy, I had adapted and I wanted to play. Things happened that made me sad and I made this decision. Then this opportunity came to me and I didn't think twice. I still have something to do, a mission that needs to be accomplished, which I think is the last one. Of course, I also want to return to the Brazilian national team," said Neymar.

After leaving PSG in the summer of 2023, Neymar joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in a deal that cost around 300 million euros, including salary and transfer fee. It was one of the most sensational transfers in modern football, but unfortunately, Neymar failed to live up to expectations due to numerous injuries.

In total, he played only 7 games for Al Hilal before a serious injury cut short his season. This was a heavy blow for him, as he had hoped to play a significant role in the growth of football in the Middle East. After the great disappointment, the decision to leave Al Hilal was inevitable.

In his first stint at Santos, Neymar was simply extraordinary. In 225 games, he scored 136 goals, an incredible record for such a young player. The pinnacle of his career at Santos was in 2011, when he led the team to victory in the Copa Libertadores, a trophy the club had not won in nearly 50 years. After his triumphs with Santos, Neymar made the big step to Europe, moving to Barcelona in 2013. There he formed a legendary attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, winning the Champions League in 2015. He remained in Catalonia until the summer of 2017, when PSG paid his release clause of 222 million euros, making him the most expensive player in history.

In Paris, Neymar had some great moments, but also many injuries that prevented him from reaching his full potential. Despite this, he helped PSG win multiple titles in France and reach the Champions League final in 2020. If he can keep his fitness problems at bay and play regularly, he could make a great comeback and help Santos fight for domestic and international titles. Moreover, a successful season could also bring him back to the Brazilian national team, aiming for another World Cup.