Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has described Neymar as “happy,” “joyful,” and “committed” to his Brazilian boyhood club, despite growing rumors linking him to European clubs.
Neymar returned to Vila Belmiro during the winter window after an underwhelming stint at Al Hilal, signing a short-term contract until June 30. A serious ACL injury interrupted his 18-month spell in Saudi Arabia, but his strong start back in Brazil has caught the attention of clubs across Europe.
Barcelona, where Neymar previously played, has been heavily linked with re-signing the winger, while Bayern Munich has also emerged as an unexpected contender. However, Santos is eager to extend Neymar’s current contract.
“The hardest part is already over, which was having him here,” Teixeira told MARCA this week. “We’ll see the technical response from the club and the results. We’re working on sponsorships… he has already shown he’s not worried about the financial aspect.”
Neymar has contributed to six goals in his first seven appearances for Santos. “The entire technical committee accompanies him to his matches; everyone supports Santos, the entire country. That will influence the possibility of him staying here in the near future. The national team has called him back.”
Teixeira emphasized Neymar’s commitment to the project at Santos, calling him “happy, joyful, and focused on being an important factor at Santos.”
While financial considerations don’t seem to be the driving force for Neymar, who has earned substantial wages from top clubs in recent years, Teixeira confirmed that Santos could not match the offers Neymar is likely receiving from clubs abroad, describing the decision as “a matter of feeling.”
Barcelona’s emotional pull could be significant, especially given the club’s long-standing connection with Neymar. Despite the legal issues surrounding his 2013 transfer, Teixeira affirmed that Santos still maintains a “very healthy relationship” with the La Liga leaders. Barcelona reportedly expects Neymar to score 15 goals this season before opening transfer discussions. Neymar has already netted three goals.
