Neymar Welcomed By Luxury And Emotional Ceremonys Upon Arriving In Santos

Neymar was greeted with joy and emotion when he returned to Santos (Instagram/@santosfc).

The crying Neymar was welcomed back to his boyhood club on Friday, January 31, 2025, local time, by thousands of Santos fans. An inscription stretched across the stadium, "the prince has returned".

The forward signed a contract upon arrival which will take effect for six months.

Around 20,000 Santos fans filled the Villa Belmiro Stadium in the rain to celebrate Neymar's return.

The arrival of 32-year-old players at night accompanied by fireworks ended the three-hour celebration which also featured local singers.

"I'm very happy. We're having great moments here. There's still a lot to be." Neymar said.

When fans chanted that they wanted to see him dribble again, as he has often done in his career, he said, "I will not lack the courage (to dribble)."

A moment earlier, he greeted his prospective teammates and club executives at Santos' training ground.

Neymar's private jet landed in the rural state of Sao Paulo from Saudi Arabia in the morning, but he asked for a few hours of rest before being flown to Santos by helicopter.

The banner that reads "the prince has returned" sells for 10 reals. Graphite inspired by artificial intelligence outside the stadium shows Neymar looking more mature and wearing a crown on his head - not a small thing in the city where Pele became king for decades until he died in December 2022 at the age of 82.

A video uploaded by Santos on social media shows Neymar not wearing the number 11 shirt he wore during his first period from 2009 to 2013.

He will wear Pele's famous number 10 jersey during his second term at the club.

"It is an honor to wear this holy shirt," Neymar said in the video.

Saudi Arabia's Pro League club, Al Hilal, announced on Monday, January 27, 2025, that it had reached an agreement with Neymar to terminate its contract.

The Brazilian superstar scored only one goal in seven appearances during 18 months with injuries.

The former Barcelona star suffered a torn anterior cruciatum (ACL) ligament in his left knee while on international duty shortly after signing a contract with Al Hilal.

He returned to the pitch in October 2024, but a hamstring injury prevented him from making a substantial contribution to the club.

Neymar was then asked at a press conference when he decided he wanted to return to Santos.

"There are some decisions that go beyond football's logic and some have an impact. When I was sure I would come back, I admitted that in January 2025, I couldn't imagine going back to Santos or leaving Al Hilal."

"I was very happy there, my family was very happy there, I was very adaptable and full of desire to play."

"A lot of things happen and I have to make decisions. I start to feel sad during training, every day, and it doesn't go well for me."

"The opportunity to come back and I didn't think twice. From day one, I've decided to come back."

"I told my father and everything went well. Everyone was happy. I'm back with new energy."

"Since I set foot here, I feel like I'm 17 years old again. I am very happy, excited, and very excited to play," said Neymar.

Neymar started his professional career with Santos in 2009 and developed into one of the brightest young talents in the world of football. He inspired Santos to win the Copa Libertadores title in 2011.

He has played 128 times for Brazil's National Team, scoring a record goal for Selecao with 79 goals - two more goals than Pele.

Neymar is part of the Brazil National Team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.