- 2 hours ago
Neymar sacrifices €65m to make EMOTIONAL return
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 22 Jan 2025 13:04 GMT
- 4 min read
Neymar is willing to miss out on a €65 million payday in order to join his next club immediately, with the Al-Hilal player coming to a decisive decision about his future.
A former Barcelona and PSG star, Neymar has rather lost his way at Al-Hilal, where an ACL injury saw him sidelined for well over a year.
The Brazil international star has not been registered for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season, and with his contract set to expire in the summer, rumours are rife over what his next step might be.
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Current ETV
Neymar
F (L), M, AMC
Al-Hilal
Neymar
F (L), M, AMC
Al-Hilal
ETV Range
€8.1M - €13.6M
Interest has come from MLS, where the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, where he could hook up with Lionel Messi for a third time, have both been linked with a blockbuster transfer ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, but according to Globo, the 32-year-old has chosen a different path.
Neymar is ready to sign for Santos, the club where he initially made his name before leaving for Barcelona and, subsequently, to PSG.
In order to do this, Al-Hilal will have to release him early from his current contract. Even if this costs the player €65m in wages, it is a decision he is willing to make in order to return home.
READ MORE: Neymar stuns MLS with Messi contract DEMAND
Free to leave Al-Hilal
Neymar could even use a new piece of legislation to leave Al-Hilal unilaterally, according to Mundo Deportivo.
FIFA has a put in place a new interim rule as a result of the Lassana Diarra transfer case, which ruled in favour of the player breaking his agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow.
This states that a contract can be terminated by any party without any consequences when there is just cause. 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 walk free.
Why is Neymar joining Santos?
Neymar has decided to join Santos, with Brazilian publication Globo indicating he has taken this action for three primary reasons.
The first of these is the love of the fans that he has felt when returning to the club.
“He has rediscovered the affection of the fans who love him so much,” Globo states. “On the occasions he has been at Vila Belmiro recently, Neymar has been celebrated by everyone, eager for his return. And, since last year, he has been reciprocating the affection with constant acts and posts of love for Santos.”
On top of this, Neymar is eager to regain his match sharpness and is targeting a return to the Brazil national team, who he has not featured for since his injury in October 2023. He is still targeting the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar will sign a six-month contract with Santos, giving him control of his future, which is important for him. Should the return not go as expected, he will be free in the summer to make another decision on his future, which could potentially re-open the door to a Messi reunion and a switch to Inter Miami.
