Neymar 'will not retire at Santos and plans to return to European football' after rediscovering his form following ACL injury
Neymar 'will not retire at Santos and plans to return to European football' after rediscovering his form following ACL injury
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Neymar is said to be aiming for a return to Europe’s top leagues after his upcoming stint at Santos, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Neymar is poised to rejoin his boyhood club Santos on a six-month contract after leaving the Saudi Pro League early. The 32-year-old attacker had his contract with Al Hilal terminated six months early on Monday, ending his brief and injury-riddled spell in Saudi Arabia.
![[Neymar suffered a serious knee injury, followed by a hamstring issue, which significantly impacted his playing time at the Saudi-based club]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/07/94580451-14341225-Neymar_suffered_a_serious_knee_injury_followed_by_a_hamstring_is-a-3_1738221774800.jpg)
His departure had fueled speculation over his next move, with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire emerging as a potential destination. However, Santos' president confirmed on Tuesday that Neymar had chosen to return home to the club he previously played for between 2010 and 2013.
Sources, via ESPN, indicate that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star sees this spell in Brazil as a short-term fix. Neymar is said to be aiming for a return to Europe’s top leagues after his upcoming stint at Santos following his departure from Al Hilal.
Neymar suffered a serious knee injury, followed by a hamstring issue, which significantly impacted his playing time at the Saudi-based club. He is looking to use the club to regain full match fitness and form following an ACL injury that sidelined him for over a year.
Neymar, who has not played in Europe since leaving PSG for Saudi Arabia in 2023, reportedly hopes to secure a move back to a top European club in the future. The forward is set to be officially unveiled at Sao Paulo's Pacaembu Stadium on Friday, and sources suggest he could make his return to action as early as February 5 in a match against Botafogo-SP.
