Neymar’s current contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal expires in June. ESPN reported last week, citing sources, that Neymar has started initial talks with Major League Soccer (MLS) teams to join US soccer. In addition to Chicago Fire, the name of Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez’s Inter Miami also came up in that report. Neymar wants to return to his roots by canceling the contract with Al Hilal. It is definitely in Brazil. However, everyone understands Neymar’s roots to be the Brazilian club Santos. While in this club, the football-world began to see glimpses of his talent.
The matter of Neymar’s attempt to return to Santos is still rumoured, but there is no chance to completely dismiss it. Because, Brazilian media “Globo” also reported that Santos and Neymar have reached an agreement on this matter and are trying to cancel the contract with the Brazilian star Al Hilal.
Globo’s report says, “Santos is very optimistic about Neymar’s return. This week will be decisive in terminating his contract with Al Hilal. Another paragraph of the report reads, “The matter of terminating the contract is under process. But the matter is not easy. A financial deal has to be done, because Neymar still owes Al Hilal $650 million, which he does not want to leave. Although he wants to leave the club.
Neymar returned to the field for Al Hilal in October last year after being out for almost a year due to injury. But in his second match for the club the following month, he was sidelined again with a hamstring injury. Now he is fighting to return to the field.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal coach George Jesus said last Friday, ‘I don’t know anything about Neymar’s future. The Saudi Pro League is one of the best in the world and Neymar cannot play at the level we are used to.’ Globo also reported that Al Hilal told Neymar they would not register Neymar for the Saudi Pro League.
That is, Neymar is not guaranteed to play regular matches in Al Hilal after recovery. Neymar, 32, has spoken to the club about a six-month return to Santos, sources told ESPN. Sources also said that the salary will not be an obstacle to his return to Santos.
Santos chief executive Pedro Martins, however, dismissed Neymar’s return, saying, “Nothing has progressed, and nothing has been closed.” The club is monitoring Neymar’s situation, keeping an eye on how he resolves things with his current club. Neymar has a contract with the club. If they can sort it out there (in Saudi Arabia), we will then assess how he can come here.”
According to Globo, Neymar plans to return to Santos at the end of this month. He will be able to play for Santos in Brazil’s oldest league, Campeonato Paulista. But the press also explained some of the reasons for Neymar’s return to Santos. The first reason is that Santos seems to be his role model to restore the ‘joy’ he used to get in football. Apart from this, he wants to return to Santos to fully recover physically.
The love of Santos fans is also important to Neymar. Returning to Santos a few days ago, he received the unconditional love of the club’s supporters. In addition, his return to the Brazilian national team should also be kept in mind. For that, regular matches are required in club football. Al Hilal does not have that opportunity except for the Asian Champions League and the Club World Cup. But Santos has that chance and Brazil have a World Cup qualifier next March. Keeping in mind the issue of returning to the national team, Neymar will have to play regular matches from now on.
Globo reported another possibility, Neymar could also own Santos in the future. This is one of the important issues discussed between the two parties. And if everything goes well after Neymar returns to Santos, his contract may be extended until the 2026 World Cup. In 2013, Neymar left Santos and joined Barcelona. After four years there, he joined PSG in 2017, making a world record transfer. In 2023, he left the French club and made a new address for the Saudi club Al Hilal. The transfer was completed for €9 million, making him the most expensive player in the Saudi league. Neymar is rumored to be earning €150 million a year at Al Hilal, which is six times his salary at PSG.