After ending his contract with Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal, Brazil's iconic striker Neymar is set to return to Santos after a gap of nearly 12 years, as suggested by club president Marcelo Teixeira's social media post on Tuesday.
"It is the time (to come back), Neymar. It is time for you to come back to your people. To our home, to the club in our hearts," Teixeira said. “Welcome, our boy Ney! A boy of Vila (Belmiro, Santos’ stadium). Come back to be happy again with the white and black shirt. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms."
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When contacted, Neymar's representative Day Franco informed The Associated Press that the player had no immediate statement to make.
During his time in Saudi Arabia, Neymar faced significant setbacks, primarily due to an ACL injury sustained whilst representing Brazil in October 2023, limiting his participation on the field to just seven matches in 17 months.
According to reports in the Brazilian media, the footballer is scheduled to return to his home country this week, with plans to meet Santos supporters in the coming days.
During his earlier tenure at Santos, his childhood club located in the coastal city outside São Paulo, Neymar clinched six titles, with the notable achievement being the Copa Libertadores trophy in 2011.
The Brazilian forward made history in 2017 when his transfer from Barcelona to PSG commanded a record-breaking fee of 222 million euros (then $262 million), establishing him as football's costliest signing.
Neymar bid farewell to Al-Hilal in a video posted by the Saudi club.
"Today I am very happy to be able to go, return home, to my country," Neymar told his former teammates, without mentioning Santos. "It was a pleasure for me to play for this club. It was a short time, things were not as I expected. I could not help you on the pitch as I wanted," said the Brazilian.
