Neymar was one of the most talked about names in the January transfer window. The Brazilian superstar, who has six months left on his contract with Al Hilal, is attracting interest from clubs around the world. There have been rumors that Neymar could be reunited with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, but reports suggest Neymar is set to return to his beloved Santos.
All eyes were on Neymar’s uncertain future at Al Hilal after coach Jorge Jesus announced that the player would not play in the Saudi Professional League due to fitness concerns. “He is world class. But the truth is that physically Neymar can no longer perform at the level that we are used to,” Jesus said. Speculation about Neymar’s next move increased following the decision, culminating in reports that he was close to returning to Brazil.
According to Brazilian media outlet Diario do Peixe, Santos reached an agreement on Saturday to bring Neymar back on loan for six months to match the remainder of his contract with Al Hilal. The deal has reportedly been completed and a formal announcement is expected in the coming days.
In an earlier interview with Brazilian legend Romário on YouTube’s Romário TV channel, Neymar acknowledged the growing buzz surrounding his return, which was reportedly one of the main reasons for his return due to public reaction. I looked back.
“When this started coming out, I said, ‘Wow, that’s crazy.’ The whole country was texting friends, fans, even competitors: ‘Are you going home?’ I was starting to get a little nervous because I knew I wanted to go back someday, but I hadn’t thought about that possibility. But after this news surfaced…” he said. With Santos returning to Brazil’s top flight this year, club bosses see Neymar as a key figure in a new project to re-establish themselves.
During his first stint with Santos, Neymar appeared in 225 games and scored 136 goals. He helped lead the club to its crowning achievement, the 2011 Copa Libertadores title. In 2013, Neymar left Santos for FC Barcelona, but now, 12 years later, it appears he intends to return to his roots.
Neymar rejects interest from MLS
Neymar’s return to Brazil reportedly came at the expense of interest from Major League Soccer. Inter Miami have emerged as the frontrunners due to Neymar’s strong ties with team stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, the move was deemed difficult due to MLS salary cap restrictions, making it nearly impossible for the team to meet Neymar’s financial demands.
Brazilian media outlet Diario do Peixe reported that Santos club president Marcelo Teixeira, general manager Pedro Martins and Neymar’s father Neymar Sr. have finalized the financial details of the deal. . Al Hilal will also pay part of Neymar’s salary, which will be key to facilitating his return.
Another MLS club is the Chicago Fire, who reportedly made a big effort to sign the forward. Despite their strong interest, Neymar’s desire to return to the club where he first rose to prominence tipped the scales in Santos’ favor, and his dream of a return became a reality.
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