BREAKING: Neymar's Return to Brazil is Imminent

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, known for his breaking news, 33-year-old Brazilian star Neymar Jr. is returning home and will once again play for Santos, the club he left in 2013. The parties involved have reached a verbal agreement and are now waiting for the formal part of the contracts to be finalized next week.

According to other outlets, the player will initially sign for six months until the end of his contract with Al-Hilal, which expires mid-year. The Brazilian club plans to present the player by February 1st and have him ready to play by February 5th, when Santos will face Botafogo-SP in the São Paulo State Championship.

Neymar's Beginnings in Brazil

Born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil, Neymar spent much of his childhood in the Santos youth academy. He turned professional in 2009, playing 177 matches and scoring 107 goals. During his time at the coastal club, Neymar won the 2011 Copa Libertadores, the 2010 Copa do Brasil, the 2013 Recopa Sudamericana, and three state championships.
There was also a recent rumor that the player and his father were negotiating a possible purchase of the club due to recent changes in Brazilian legislation and the team's financial struggles. Santos spent the year 2024 in the second division of the Brazilian Championship.

Neymar has played fewer than 25 matches since the 2022 Qatar World Cup. With multiple injuries on the field and numerous controversies off it, the athlete's life has been quite tumultuous in recent years. According to Neymar, the goal is to regain his top form to compete in his last World Cup for Brazil in 2026, the United States, possibly bringing the sixth world championship title to his nation. For Al-Hilal, 'Ney' played in 6 matches, scored one goal, and provided three assists.

Neymar had been linked to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, with the franchise reportedly sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia to try to convince the player of their project. Spanish newspapers also suggested that Barcelona emerged as one of the possible destinations for the player, and the Brazilian club Flamengo denied the rumors.