Ex-FC Barcelona star Neymar has decided to leave Al-Hilal and join his first club Santos.
Ex-FC Barcelona star Neymar has decided to leave Al-Hilal when his contract expires in 2025 and rejoin his first club Santos, according to El Nacional.
The Brazilian signed for the Saudi Pro league team last summer when leaving Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to $109 million (£86 million) The Guardian reported.
He managed to play just five games in all competitions for his new employers, before tragedy struck while on international duty in October.
Neymar ruptured his ACL and meniscus during a 2-0 World Cup qualifier defeat to Uruguay, and bid farewell to the rest of the season in addition to the Copa America in the United States where Brazil will attempt to wrest back its 2019 title lost to holders and bitter rivals Argentina.
The 32-year-old is expected to return to action in August and start over again in the Middle East.
Yet according to El Nacional, Neymar has already decided to leave Saudi Arabia when his two-year contract expires and return to where it all began in early adolescence aged 11.
Providing the fallen giants can return to Brazil’s top championship, the Serie A, Neymar could join o peixe in mid-2025 when the South American football season would be well underway.
This move wouldn’t be looked at unkindly by new Brazil national team manager Dorival Jr., who is currently in Europe to keep tabs on players such as Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Vitor Roque and Raphinha.
Though he should be one of the first names on the squad list given his status as the Selecao’s all-time top scorer, playing in Brazil again would put Neymar in good stead to be called up for the 2026 World Cup set to be held in North America.
It goes without saying, though, that to rejoin Santos, where he has attended matches as of late, Neymar would have to reduce his current take-home pay to a pittance.
In 2023, he finished third on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players with on-field earnings of $80 million that are beyond the reach of top European clubs – let alone those in his homeland.
