SANTOS, Brazil — Neymar received a warm welcome back to his childhood club on Friday, as thousands of enthusiastic Santos fans celebrated his return with a concert at the club’s stadium, marked by the electronic message, “The prince is back.”
Neymar officially signed a contract upon his arrival, which is believed to last until the end of June.
The 32-year-old forward was set to address the media following a grand reception attended by approximately 20,000 Santos supporters at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, located just outside São Paulo.
Prior to heading to the stadium, he met with his future teammates and club officials at Santos’ training ground.
After arriving in the São Paulo state countryside from Saudi Arabia early in the day, Neymar chose to rest for a few hours before taking a helicopter to Santos.
Reports from Brazilian media suggest that he signed a five-month deal with Santos as he seeks to regain his fitness in Brazil in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
Outside the 20,000-seat Vila Belmiro Stadium, fans could purchase banners proclaiming “The prince is back” for 10 reais (approximately $1.50). Additionally, AI-generated graffiti depicted Neymar with a more mature look and a crown, a significant tribute in a city where the legendary Pelé was adored until his passing in December 2022 at the age of 82.
“This is massive for Santos, both the club and the city,” remarked graffiti artist E.
Social media videos posted by Santos featured Neymar, who will not don the No. 11 he wore during his initial spell from 2009 to 2013 but instead will take on Pelé’s No. 10 jersey.
“It will be an honor to wear this sacred jersey,” Neymar stated in the clip.
This week, Saudi club Al-Hilal mutually agreed to terminate Neymar’s contract six months early, following his participation in just seven matches and only one goal since September 2023. After an ACL injury kept him sidelined for a year until October, Al-Hilal noted that Neymar could no longer perform at his previous standards.
Throughout his career, Neymar has faced scrutiny when departing from clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, yet he continues to have a glass of silverware and plenty of goals to show for it. Recently, he expressed hope for a warm reception back home, where he holds a revered status.
In a show of support for his move back to Brazil, several former teammates sent video messages congratulating him, including Luis Suárez, Gianluigi Buffon, Andres Iniesta, and Rodrygo.
During his first stint at Santos, Neymar played in 225 matches, netting 138 goals that significantly contributed to the team winning six titles. After being relegated in 2023, Santos managed to return to the top division last year.
“For us, Neymar’s return is a rebirth,” commented Victor Hugo Arantes, a 45-year-old event producer from Santos. “We weren’t expecting this. Neymar could play anywhere else, he has the level to be in top leagues. I think his heart spoke louder.”
Once deemed the most expensive player in soccer history for his transfer from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (around $262 million) in 2017, Neymar was sold to Al-Hilal in 2023 for 90 million euros (approximately $94 million).
Although he hasn’t played since November, Santos supporters are hopeful to see him on the field as soon as next week during the São Paulo state championship, viewed as a preseason opportunity for many local teams. The Brazilian league is scheduled to run from April to December.
Anderson Souza, a43-year-old resident of Santos who does not support the club, believes that Neymar could help lift the city’s spirits after facing challenging times.
“Pelé died, the team was relegated, there was a lot of gloom. I hope he is bringing some energy back; people need it,” Souza expressed. “But he needs to know that people will want him to perform, to make an effort for them, to be at his best. Santos fans love him, but they are not fools.”