- 7 hours ago
Neymar plans stunning return to Europe, dreams of Barcelona
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 14 Feb 2025 07:56 GMT
- 4 min read
Neymar has set his eyes on returning to Europe after his current spell at Santos, with the Brazil attacker dreaming of a move back to Barcelona.
The 33-year-old completed a free transfer back to his homeland in January following his release from Al-Hilal, where doubts had been raised by head coach Jorge Jesus about the player’s ability to hit his top level again.
Current ETV
Neymar
F (L), M (C)
Santos
Neymar
F (L), M (C)
Santos
ETV Range
€6M - €8.2M
Now Neymar is going out to prove the Portuguese boss wrong by showing the world what he can do at Santos and winning a place back at Barcelona, Cadena SER reports.
The attacker’s strategy has been to return to Brazil following his ACL injury to get game time that will provide him with match sharpness. He has only taken a six-month contract with Santos to allow him the freedom to move again in the summer.
While Barcelona is Neymar’s ideal destination, he is not set on going back to Camp Nou. He is prepared to listen to other offers from major clubs. In the long term, he wants to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Neymar aims to prove Jesus wrong
It appears that Neymar is using the criticism from Jorge Jesus as fuel to get back to the top.
“About Neymar, it's not easy,” Jesus said on 16 January. “He's coming back from an injury that took him out of the competition. When he was coming back, he got injured again. He's a player that leaves no doubts for anyone, he's a top player in the world, but the truth is that physically he hasn't been able to keep up with the team.”
Neymar issued a response some days later after leaving Al-Hilal.
“I'm ready to play. I had the training base, but I needed the games,” he said. “Obviously I was very upset with Jorge Jesus' words when he said that I wasn't in the same condition as the rest of the team. In training, I showed that I was ready to play, that I was in the same condition as the other athletes. Especially because when we did a collective training session, I was the one who made the decisions, I was the one who scored the goals.
“I don't even like to talk about it, to create controversy, but it's the reality. When Jorge Jesus made that statement, I knew that when I went on the field I would show something different.”
The coach of the Saudi Pro League side subsequently backtracked on his claims.
“I had no luck at all, neither he nor I. He was at Al-Hilal with a very serious injury,” Jesus said in an interview with Canal 11. “Neymar was the best player I've worked with since I became a coach. We didn't have much time to show everything he had. A good professional, a good friend, he's not a star.
“But the truth is that things didn't work out. Sometimes, talking to myself, frustrated, I even think: 'How come I didn't manage to get this player, who is a superstar, to do well?' But whatever. These things happened.”
