Neymar eyes return to European football after Santos stint: Details
What's the story
Brazilian football star Neymar is eyeing a return to Europe's elite football leagues, following his stint at Santos. Sources confirmed the news to ESPN. The 32-year-old forward will return to Santos, his boyhood club, on a six-month deal after exiting the Saudi Pro League early. His contract with Al Hilal was terminated prematurely on Monday, ending his short and injury-riddled stay in Saudi Arabia.
Homecoming
Return to Santos confirmed amid speculation
Neymar's exit from Al Hilal fueled rumors of his next move, with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire being touted as a possible destination. However, the speculation was put to rest on Tuesday as Santos's president confirmed that Neymar had opted to return home. He will be playing for the same club he represented between 2010 and 2013. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player sees this Brazilian stint as a stop-gap arrangement, ESPN sources said.
Recovery
Journey to regain full match fitness
Neymar's stint at Al Hilal was plagued by a serious knee injury and later hamstring issues, which limited his playing time drastically. He hopes to utilize his time at Santos to recover completely from an ACL injury that sidelined him for ovr a year. The forward hasn't played in Europe since parting ways with PSG for Saudi Arabia in 2023, but reportedly hopes to move back to European football.
Information
Neymar set for official unveiling
Neymar is set for an official unveiling at Sao Paulo's Pacaembu Stadium on Friday. He could make his comeback on February 5 in a match against Botafogo-SP, sources suggest.