May one in all soccer’s largest icons be going through an unsure future but once more? The whispers round Neymar Jr.’s long-term position at Santos have grown louder following his newest harm setback. After a short and emotional return to his boyhood membership, the Brazilian famous person finds himself again on the remedy desk—leaving many to wonder if his journey house is already nearing its finish.
However because the hypothesis swirls, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has stepped ahead, casting gentle on the membership’s imaginative and prescient for Neymar’s future. His remarks paint a extra layered image—one which stretches past speedy efficiency and delves into legacy, potential, and rehabilitation.
The Brazilian’s return to Santos in January 2025 was one in all soccer’s most romantic narratives. After a turbulent, injury-riddled spell at Al-Hilal—the place he managed solely seven video games over 18 months—the 33-year-old star was granted a recent begin on the membership the place all of it started.
In his first few video games, the veteran supplied glimpses of his former brilliance, netting three objectives and offering three assists in simply seven appearances, serving to Santos attain the Paulista semi-finals. However simply as followers had been beginning to dream once more, a hamstring harm struck. After which got here one other merciless blow: after six weeks out, the veteran famous person returned solely to depart the pitch in tears in opposition to Atletico Mineiro—having re-injured the identical muscle within the first half.
What did Santos’ president say?
Chatting with TV Globo, Teixeira didn’t draw back from addressing the priority. “There isn’t any profit to [Neymar’s injury],” he admitted. “There’s a undertaking, this work is unbiased of him enjoying. We actually have to analyse and calculate the undertaking, the continuity, the features and the advantages of Neymar staying.”
But regardless of the harm cloud, Santos just isn’t prepared to shut the ebook on Neymar. Teixeira revealed the membership is actively discussing an extension, eyeing a deal that might see him keep till the 2026 World Cup.
“Primarily based on what we’ve been discussing, there’s an excellent likelihood that, if he needs to and Santos needs to, we’ll renew our contract as soon as once more—with a view to staying till subsequent yr’s World Cup,” Teixeira defined. “That is the primary undertaking, for six months, and with the viability that, with this case and all the things that’s taking place, the prospect of renewing our contract is excellent.”
Change in technique: From private palms to membership management
Maybe essentially the most important shift in Neymar’s saga has come behind the scenes. Initially, Neymar’s harm restoration was managed solely by his private medical group. However after re-aggravating the identical harm inside two matches, Santos has now taken management.
In response to UOL Esportes, the membership’s medical employees will now oversee his rehabilitation, and Neymar has agreed to endure double coaching classes and report repeatedly to the coaching middle—even on off days. A kind of days was this previous Monday, when Neymar confirmed up voluntarily to work on his restoration whereas the remainder of the squad rested.
This dedication suggests Neymar isn’t simply going via the motions—he needs to play. And play properly. The underlying objective of this whole Santos-Neymar undertaking seems clear: one final dance on the world stage on the 2026 World Cup. Neymar hasn’t featured for the Brazil nationwide group since October 2023, and time is ticking. However the Peixe nonetheless consider in his potential to get there.
“We at all times wish to depend on Neymar. He has been doing this strengthening work. We hope that on this progress there shall be the opportunity of him returning,” Teixeira mentioned.
