Brazilian international Neymar is attempting to make a return to Santos, his first club, after facing difficulties with a potential MLS transfer. The forward is reportedly trying to nullify his contract with Saudi Pro League’s Al Hilal in order to join Santos for a short-term six-month deal. Al Hilal reportedly has no objections to letting Neymar go, as they are not planning to use him for the second half of the season.

Though discussions are ongoing, financial terms between Neymar and Al Hilal still need to be settled before he can officially leave. Currently, Neymar’s contract is worth about $65 million, which he aims to fulfill before summer.

Santos has swiftly reached out to Neymar’s camp to prepare for his rejoining, particularly following comments made by Al Hilal’s manager about Neymar no longer being part of their plans. One motivating factor is an AI-generated video featuring former Santos and Brazil star Pele that aimed to persuade Neymar to return, which reportedly moved Neymar’s father to tears.

This possible return comes after Neymar’s lucrative transfer to Al Hilal, worth upwards of $200 million, from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, which signified the Saudi league’s initiative to attract top global talent. Unfortunately, his time there was undermined by injuries and escalating speculations about his desire for a move back, with Santos showing keen interest.

There were indications from MLS teams like the Chicago Fire about signing Neymar, albeit the player was not particularly keen on joining any other franchises apart from possibly Inter Miami, pending discussions with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez and Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano. Given the current roster rules, a move to Miami appears challenging.

Notably, Neymar, who made his Santos debut at 17 in 2009, significantly shaped his career there, scoring 136 goals in 225 appearances before his move to Barcelona in 2013.