- Neymar joined the Saudi side in a £78million deal but has played seven games
- The superstar has been hamstrung by several crippling injuries in recent years
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Everton where they deserve to be or are the club’s fans delusional?
Neymar is closing in on a return to his boyhood club Santos, according to reports.
The Brazilian looks set to leave Al-Hilal after the club’s manager claimed he was no longer capable of playing at the top level.
The superstar, now 32, joined the Saudi side in a £78million deal from PSG in the summer of 2023 but has been restricted to just seven appearances.
He is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in November in just his second game back after being ruled out for a year, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty with Brazil.
It has been confirmed that Neymar will not be registered for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season and Santos have offered him a way out, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The journalist posted on X: ‘Neymar Jr, close to returning to Santos as the Brazilian club has now submitted formal loan proposal!
Neymar is closing in on a return to his boyhood club Santos, according to reports
‘Santos are waiting for green light from Al Hilal, timing depends on the Saudi club. Santos, way ahead of Chicago Fire in Ney race.’
Neymar is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and would no doubt be given a hero’s welcome should he return to Santos.
The 32-year-old came through the ranks at the Brazilian side before scoring 107 goals in 177 games.
Reports have linked him with a move to MLS, potentially as soon as this month.
‘When I created this team it was with Mitrovic and Neymar, before he had this injury that has left him out of the competition for 14 or 15 months,’ Jesus added.
‘Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately. He is still under contract and it may be up to him to decide his future. It depends on the club, on the administration.
‘The only thing I know is that Neymar is not registered. Until January 31 the window is open. So I’m not going to speculate on things I don’t know.’
Neymar has scored just one goal in seven appearances since his move to the Middle East and he was not registered for the first half of the Saudi Pro League campaign.
The former Barcelona man, Brazil’s all-time record goal scorer with 79 goals, harbours no resentment toward Jesus but admitted he is ‘very honest’.
‘If you’re playing poorly, he’ll tell you to your face,’ Neymar told Romario TV. ‘As a coach, he’s really good. He works the team very well.’
According to recent data from French outlet Foot Mercato, Neymar is believed to have been paid a staggering £84.6million in the whole of 2024 despite his injury woes.
