In a significant development, Brazilian forward Neymar has returned to his boyhood club, Santos FC, after mutually terminating his contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. Neymar, now 32, began his professional career at Santos before moving to Europe, where he played for FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. His return is seen as a full-circle moment, bringing him back to the club where he first rose to prominence.
Neymar’s stint with Al Hilal was marred by injuries, limiting him to just seven appearances over 17 months. Despite these challenges, his return to Santos has been met with enthusiasm, with the club’s president, Marcelo Teixeira, expressing optimism about Neymar regaining his form ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
This move is part of a broader trend of high-profile players returning to their roots, aiming to make meaningful contributions in the latter stages of their careers.
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