What began as a fairy-tale homecoming has quickly spiraled into a disaster for Brazilian superstar Neymar. The former Barcelona and PSG forward could be on his way out of Santos just five months after rejoining the club where his professional journey began.
Neymar’s return in the winter was marked by excitement, celebration, and high hopes from fans who believed their beloved icon would restore Santos’ former glory. However, the dream comeback has turned into a serious disappointment.
After 11 rounds of the Brazilian Serie A, Santos finds itself languishing in 18th place—firmly in the relegation zone. Despite returning from Al Hilal at the beginning of the year, Neymar has failed to make a significant impact. He has played only four matches in the national league, scoring zero goals. His three goals came in the less competitive Paulista League, which pales in comparison to the intensity of Serie A.
To make matters worse, Neymar received a red card in the most recent match. In a controversial moment, he deliberately pushed the ball into the net with his hand, earning a second yellow and a subsequent sending-off. The incident allowed Botafogo to capitalize, scoring the winning goal through Artur in the 87th minute.
After the match, Neymar expressed regret:
“Sometimes, I desperately want to score and end up making mistakes. I apologize to the fans and my teammates. If I hadn’t been sent off, we could have secured three points. The team played very well. Congratulations to everyone. Brazil has many poor referees—my first yellow card was a joke. That’s just my opinion, please don’t punish me for saying it,” he wrote.
As speculation grows over his future, Neymar’s emotional return now stands as a cautionary tale of how quickly things can fall apart—even for football’s biggest stars.
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