The prodigal son returned to Brazil in January to try and regain some fitness and form following his dismal spell with Saudi club Al-Hilal. Since then, there have been tears, fan confrontations, and around $1 billion worth of assets inherited from a businessman he’s never met.
By Alex Roberts
Santos are no longer the powerhouse they were when Neymar was first with the club. Back in 2023, they suffered the first relegation of their club’s illustrious history, and the fans did not take it well.
As the final whistle blew in their 2-1 defeat to Fortaleza, the game that sealed their fate, the players collapsed to the turf and the home crowd threw everything but the kitchen sink at them. There did appear to be a toilet seat, however, so not too far off.
Tear gas erupted and the smoke from burning cars outside the ground were accompanied by loud chants of ‘Time sem vergonha’, shameless team. Luckily for everyone involved, they secured promotion back to the Serie A at the first time of asking.
In January 2025, Neymar returned, 12 years after he left his mark on Santos’ dressing-room wall with the words, “Eu vou mas, eu volto!” (“I’m going, but I’ll be back”), written as a 21-year-old prodigy with the world at his feet.
Whether fair or not, the forward continues to face accusations he never lived up to his potential. Winning the Champions League and seven league titles in Europe, as well as breaking Pele’s all-time goalscoring record for Brazil would say otherwise.
It’s the lack of a Ballon d’Or that is used as a stick to beat him with. Brazil had hoped he would become the nation’s first winner since Kaka in 2007, but unfortunately for Neymar, he had Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo just ahead of him in football’s greatest popularity contest.
Emotions ride high in Brazilian football, those same fans that were rioting were among the 20,000 that endured the rain at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira to welcome Neymar back to the club just over a year later.
It was a lavish ceremony. Local musicians played and banners saying ‘the prince is back’ were spotted all throughout the stadium as the heir to Pele’s throne made his return to the club where it all began.
There were tears, although these ones came naturally rather than from the gas, as he took the stage wearing that black and wite number ten shirt, made so famous by the man that won Brazil three world Cups.
“I can’t find the words to express the feeling when you love something,” he said after his debut in the 1-1 draw vs Botafogo SP. “I love Santos very much and I can’t find the words to describe the feeling I felt when I stepped out onto the pitch today.”
Just a few months later, that ‘love’ between Neymar and the Santos fans is starting to sour. There have been glimpses of his brilliance, the 3-1 win over Agua Santa, in which he scored his first goal and provided his first assist since returned is a standout.
As are the 3-0 win over Inter de Limeria and the 1-0 victory over Flamengo, with Neymar scoring an 84th minute winner. Football is fickle, however, and a 3-0 defeat to 10-man Mirassol and 2-1 defeat to Oscar’s Internacional quickly changed the mood.
At the time of writing, Santos are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, only above it by virtue of goal difference with 22 points, six wins, four draws, and 11 defeats from their 21 games. It’s not a good look for a club who only just made it back to the big time.
It all came to a head in the defeat to Internacional. Neymar thought he bagged a late equaliser, ran off to celebrate by kicking the corner flag, only for it to be disallowed. Santos, of course, lost the game, and the superstar had his first altercation with a group of fans.
He summoned one of them to the pitch, and the fan later gave his version of events, saying: “He told me to shut up and insulted me, saying that if I was a man I should go to the changing room to talk,” he explained.
“I asked him as captain to demand commitment, grit, determination. I didn’t understand why he was so angry. In every game I’m there. I was with my son and nephew, and we were attacked by other fans after that argument. A fan tried to slap me in the face. My nephew ended up getting a little black eye. Neymar ended up putting us against the fans. Neymar is my idol. I like him, he has already given me a lot of joy. But in this return, he is leaving something to be desired.”
Neymar had his own version of events: “He has the right to give his opinion if I played well or badly, what they can’t do is offend me. To say I am a mercenary, to talk about my family and friends. I’m sorry but it’s hard to control yourself.”
His relationship with the fans took another hit when he missed Santos’ defeat to Corinthians in the semi-finals of the Sao Paulo state championship in March with ‘injury’, only to be spotted at the brilliantly named Sambadrome in Rio a couple of days later. But, let’s be honest, that’s par for the course with Neymar.
Still, he has a knack of popping up and being a difference maker. Neymar bagged a brace in the recent 3-1 win over Juventude, giving his side three much-needed points as they continue their battle against relegation.
He has asked about his chances of making the Brazil squad for next year’s World Cup, responding in typical fashion with: ”Man, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.” He’s not wrong about that, it’s more a case of whether new boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Neymar is better than his current options.
If he doesn’t make it, he’ll be soaking up the sun on a beach somewhere with a Caipirinha in hand, no doubt paid for by the near $1 billion he just inherited from an unknown Brazilian businessman. It could be worse.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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