JAKARTA - President Santos, Marcelo Teixeira, believes Neymar will stay at the club for at least until the 2026 World Cup even though he is interested in returning to Europe this summer.
Neymar returned to his boyhood club on January 31, 2025 after 12 years and was introduced in a luxurious ceremony.
The Brazil international has signed a contract with Santos for six months after ending his contract with Al Hilal.
However, he plans to listen to offers from Europe in the middle of this year.
That wish is also not in line with Teixeira, who said the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star had remained at the club in the long term.
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"We want him to participate so the club can achieve results in the six-month project, with the prospect of him staying for the 2026 World Cup. All of these projects are to make it happen."
"It's important for him to appear again as a great player at home, with a 2026 World Cup target," Teixeira told TV Globo.
Meanwhile, Teixeira talked about how the club wanted to make the best use of Neymar's arrival and change his marketing.
Santos is considering re-published the light blue shirt immortalized by Neymar in the 2012 season.
"We have started producing a possible third uniform and changing its color. The idea is to have a blue color."
"It was something natural for us to be able to carry out Neymar's arrival project, which involved many responsibilities, to keep the project."
"Neymar di Santos adalah identitas yang tidak dapat ditolak. Jika ia memulai dari awal di klub lain, saya yakin akan lebih sulit untuk mencapai citra klub di Brasil dan dunia, dengan potensi Santos, bersama Neymar."
"This is a perfect combination that has everything to do," said Teixeira.
Neymar, who has not played since suffering a hamstring injury with his former club Al Hilal in November 2024, was able to appear for Santos on his 33rd birthday at home against Botafogo on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
He has also been training with Pedro Caixinha's squad since Monday, February 3, 2025, local time.
"Every effort is made so that this happens," said Teixeira.
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