Neymar began his career with Santos before moving to Europe with Barcelona Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer Neymar has renewed his contract with boyhood club Santos until December. The 33-year-oldreturned to the Brazilian clubon a six-moth deal in January after the termination of his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Neymar has scored 141 goals and made 69 assists in 243 appearances for Santos. The former Paris St-Germain and Barcelona forward had been linked with a return to Europe before signing a new deal with Santos until the end of the Brazilian Serie A season, with an option to extend. "I made a decision and I listened to my heart," said Neymar. "Santos is not just my team, it's my home, my roots, my history and my life. Here I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy. "This is where I want to fulfil the dreams that are missing in my career. And nothing's going to stop me. I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began and where it will never end." Neymar wasrecalled to the Brazil squadafter a 17-month absence in March but did not feature in their World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. He has scored 79 goals in 128 Brazil appearances but has not represented his country since sustaining a knee injury against Uruguay in October 2023. "It is a historic and remarkable day for Brazilian football, a gift for the fans of Santos FC," said club president Marcelo Teixeira. "Our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt remains. "It is a very important moment in this reconstruction process and we needed Neymar, both on and off the field. "The phrase 'I'm going, I'm back, I'm staying' is emblematic and fundamental for the repositioning of Santos FC at its proper level."
'Our idol, boy & prince remains' - Neymar renews contract with Santos
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"Neymar Renews Contract with Santos FC, Commits to Club's Future"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, has officially renewed his contract with Santos FC, the club where he began his illustrious career. The new deal, which extends until December, follows his return to Santos in January after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal, a club in the Saudi Pro League. Since rejoining Santos, Neymar has made a significant impact, scoring 141 goals and providing 69 assists over 243 appearances. Despite speculations about a potential return to a European club, Neymar expressed his commitment to Santos, emphasizing the emotional connection he has with the team. He stated, "Santos is not just my team, it's my home, my roots, my history and my life," highlighting his deep personal ties to the club and his desire to achieve unfulfilled dreams in his career while playing there.
In addition to his club commitments, Neymar has also been recalled to the Brazilian national team after a prolonged absence of 17 months. However, he was unable to participate in the World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina due to a knee injury sustained in October 2023. With 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, Neymar's contributions have been significant, but his injury has posed challenges for his international career. Santos FC's president, Marcelo Teixeira, remarked on the importance of Neymar's presence both on and off the pitch, stating that his renewal is a crucial step in the club's reconstruction process. Teixeira referred to Neymar as "our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt," signifying the player’s pivotal role in revitalizing the club's status in Brazilian football. Neymar's statement, "I'm going, I'm back, I'm staying," resonates deeply with fans and symbolizes his commitment to Santos as he aims to lead the team back to prominence in Brazilian football.
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