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Brazil forward Neymar returned to his home club, Santos, on Friday, facing intense speculation regarding the final months of his contract and his future in football.
The forward’s return follows his recent decision to stop playing for the Brazilian national team after their disappointing round-of-16 exit at the World Cup.
With his current club contract set to expire in December, both his international and club careers stand at a critical crossroads.
The 34-year-old striker has struggled to maintain fitness since returning to his boyhood team from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in January 2025.
Following a major left-knee surgery late last year, Neymar featured in only eight of Santos’s 19 top-flight matches in the 2026 Brasileirão.
Despite his limited appearances, he demonstrated remnants of his elite form by contributing four goals and two assists.
A source at Santos confirmed that any potential renewal of Neymar’s contract depends heavily on the outcome of the club’s board elections this December.
Current Santos president Marcelo Teixeira, who negotiated the superstar’s high-profile return, has yet to declare whether he will seek re-election.
If a contract extension falls through, media reports suggest Neymar may explore a move to US Major League Soccer (MLS), following previous failed negotiations with FC Cincinnati.
