In what has become the story of the transfer window so far, Neymar returns to the club where he first made a name for himself. Neymar officially returns to Santos after it was announced on the club's social media pages, days after speculation arose.
It has been nearly 12 years since Neymar left his boyhood club, and since then, they have both faced various trials and tribulations. Santos were relegated, which was a massive story in Brazil considering how historic the club is.
Just a year after being relegated, Santos once again returns to the top flight of Brazilian football—with Neymar on their books for six months.
Neymar's return was greeted with jubilation, as many in Brazil consider his return a welcome addition to a league that has seen a number of other Brazilian heroes return home. Oscar, Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Moura, Thiago Silva, and Hulk have all returned home to represent various clubs within the league.
With all these legendary players making their way home, the Brazilian league promises to have a compelling storyline for the rest of the season. The question remains: Who will be crowned champions when the season concludes?
As the world and the rest of Brazil await Neymar's first appearance in the Brazilian league since his departure to Barcelona, his potential has come into question since the news of his return began to gain traction online.
In his first stint at Santos, Neymar embodied the term "wonder kid," where he set the world alight with his flair and never-say-die attitude. His love and joy for football earned Neymar a move to Barcelona in the 2013–14 season, where he set out to become the best player in the world.
After years of success at Barcelona, Neymar then decided to be the talk of the football world once again when he moved to Paris Saint-Germain. His record-breaking move came with the expectation of winning the Champions League. However, that trophy eluded Neymar while he was in Paris.
After arriving in Paris during the 2017–18 season, it was time for Neymar to say goodbye to Paris, and he joined Al-Hilal in the 2023–24 season, which, like his move to Paris, shocked the world. Many fans around the world questioned whether Neymar could still compete at the highest level.
His time in Saudi Arabia was overshadowed by constant injuries, Neymar managed to win the league title while being on the books at Al-Hilal.
