Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus was certainly right when he said that Neymar “can no longer play at the level he once accustomed us to.” After all, if he were still the player he used to be, he wouldn’t be in Saudi Arabia. But even though he seems to have dropped to a lower level, there’s one place where he will be welcomed with open arms.أيام ⏳️😍 pic.twitter.com/ShejYp72BB— Team Neymar (@TeamNey10) January 26, 2025 Because Neymar is coming home! And according to reports, as early as Wednesday, he will once again be a player for his boyhood club, Santos, from which he left in 2013 for Barcelona in a 88 million euros transfer. There, alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, he formed a lethal attacking trio that brought Barcelona two La Liga titles, the 2015 Champions League, the Club World Cup, three Copa del Rey trophies, one Spanish Super Cup, and countless memorable plays that will be replayed for decades.Superstars beg the man – Neymar, please, come back homeBut Neymar wanted more. No matter what he says, he wanted the Ballon d’Or, and for 222 million, he left for Paris Saint-Germain. In France, he “ruined” the league by making PSG untouchable, but he didn’t get what he was looking for. Not only that—at the Parc des Princes, the narrative around him shifted from being the next heir to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to being a locker room disruptor, a spoiled star more interested in Brazil’s carnivals than in hard training and winning trophies.##NAJAVA_MECA_49942##When these criticisms—some exaggerated, no doubt—became more common than praise, Neymar realized the Ballon d’Or was out of reach. He decided to move to Saudi Arabia while the money was still flowing. However, his stint at Al Hilal was marred by injuries, and he managed to play only 42 minutes, though he still earned 101 million. According to meticulous calculations, that amounts to 1,122,222 for each of his 45 touches of the ball. Even for the Saudis, that was too much, making a split inevitable. Initially, it was thought Neymar might follow Messi to the MLS, but in the end, his love for his homeland—perhaps also for the carnivals—prevailed.”I do feel bitterness toward the people running PSG’So eager was Neymar to return that, perhaps for the first time in his life, he agreed to forgo a portion of the money Al Hilal still owed him for the remaining duration of his contract, which runs until June. That’s no small amount—reports suggest it could be around 65 million. He will receive part of it, but not the full sum. Of course, Santos couldn’t match that figure, but according to reports from Brazil, they managed to persuade Neymar by offering him shares in an investment fund that owns the club. This means the 32-year-old star will become a shareholder in Santos. Some speculate that he will even partly finance these shares using the money Al Hilal still owes him, though he won’t get it right away.##NAJAVA_MECA_8657230##Initially, Neymar will sign a six-month contract with an option to extend for another year—if he is fit to play. Certainly, more than the 42 minutes he managed at Al Hilal. A verbal agreement has been reached, and Santos expects Neymar to finalize his departure from Al Hilal by Wednesday and officially join the São Paulo-based club.The club management has already held meetings with sponsors, who are set to “boost” their contracts once Neymar signs. Together, they will finance the arrival of the global superstar, which will surely increase Santos’ popularity beyond Brazil’s borders. Umbro, the team’s kit supplier, stands to gain the most, as shirt sales are expected to soar.
