Brazilian superstar Neymar has been more to be seen at a poker table and few beach parties than on the football pitch since he was sold from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million in the summer of 2023.
Now, with half a year left on his gigat deal, he is willing to forget about his salary for the next five months, about 65 million euros in order to be able to leave Al-Hilal with immediate effect.
Neymar suffered an ACL injury immediately after his transfer from PSG, so he was sidelined for well over a year. He has not been registered for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season with yet another injury and poor form.
The interest has come from the MLS, from the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, where he could play with Lionel Messi for the third time, but according to Globo, the 32-year-old has chosen a different path.
Neymar is ready to sign for Santos, where it all started before he went to Barcelona and then to PSG.
To do this, Al-Hilal must release him early from his current contract. Although this costs the player €65 million in lost wages, it is a decision he is willing to make to return home.
Free to leave Al-Hilal
Neymar could even use a new legal framework to leave Al-Hilal unilaterally, according to Mundo Deportivo.
FIFA has put in place a new interim rule as a result of the Lassana Diarra transfer case, which ruled that the player violated his agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow. This states that a contract can be terminated by any party without consequences when there is a factual reason. It is suggested that being frozen out of Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League plans could justify such action for Neymar and allow him to go free.
Globo writes that Neymar is returning to Santos for three reasons:
The first of these is the love for the fans that he has felt when he returned to the club for a visit.
“He has rediscovered the affection of the fans who love him so much,” Globo says. “On occasions he has been at Vila Belmiro recently, Neymar has been celebrated by everyone, eager for his return. And since last year, he has returned the love with constant actions and love posts to Santos.”
On top of this, Neymar is eager to regain his match sharpness and is aiming for a return to the Brazilian national team, which he has not featured for since his injury in October 2023. He is still aiming for the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar will sign a six-month contract with Santos, giving him control over his future, which is important to him. Should his return not go as expected, he will be free until the summer to make another decision about his future, potentially reopening the door to a Messi reunion and a switch to Inter Miami.
One thing is for sure, there will be no World Cup if he continues to play/stay in Saudi Arabia.
