Neymar targets Brazil World Cup glory after re-joining boyhood club Santos from Al Hilal - 'One more thing to win'
Updated 01/02/2025 at 12:03 GMT
Neymar has unfinished business with Brazil after making an emotional return to boyhood team Santos following an injury-hit spell with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. The ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has next year's World Cup on his mind and said football and family are his priorities. Neymar only made a handful of appearances for Al Hilal, but claimed he now has "renewed energy".
New club, new Neymar? Brazilian star returns home to Santos
Video credit: SNTV
Neymar has laid out his ambition to win the 2026 World Cup with Brazil after returning to boyhood club Santos.
The 32-year-old has been hindered by recurrent injuries in recent years, making just seven appearances for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal following his 2023 move from Paris Saint-Germain.
But having re-joined Santos "as a hero", the former Barcelona forward made clear his intentions to be successful with club and country.
"Obviously, the Brazilian national team is something I want to do again, and I have one more thing to win, a mission that will be my last," he said in a press conference. "I'm going to go for it, I have goals and objectives to pursue."
On his move back to Santos, Neymar said: "I started to feel sad during training daily, and it wasn't good for me, but it was good for my head.
"Then, there was a chance to come back, and I did not think twice, but from day one, I had already decided that I wanted to return to Santos. I had already told my father and everything worked out, thank God.
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"I think everyone's happy, everyone's happy. And I'm very happy. My family is very happy, and my friends are very happy. And it's good. I'm back, full of renewed energy.
"When I stepped on the pitch, I felt like I was 17 again. I started here on my first day as a professional, so I'm very, very happy, very excited and eager to play."
It has been widely reported that Neymar has taken a significant wage cut to swap the lavish wealth of the Saudi Pro League for the Brazilian Serie A.
But it appears family is now the priority.
"Today, even my grandmother was here," he said. "When I hugged her she said she didn't think she would live to see this moment, and for me, it's a reason to be very happy.
"I hugged my father, and it was a hug to say that we made it, that I made it. I am victorious in this life. I managed to get out of here as a boy, travelled around the world and came back practically as a hero, so our hug was one of relief.
"For you to know that you did your best, that you gave everything, and it was received that way."
Neymar insisted that his return is not just about sentimentality, and that his focus will be on helping Santos thrive on their return to Brazil's top flight after last year's promotion from the second tier.
"I am not here to take a stroll," he added. "I didn't come to stay home on my couch. I came after my happiness as a soccer player and to help Santos in the best possible way.
"And that's what I'm going to dedicate myself to every day, to make the Santos fans happy and myself happy. Because being in the club, even more so in Vila Belmiro Stadium, it's impossible not to be happy."
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