Neymar's Return to Santos: A Story of Promise, Pressure, and Unfulfilled Potential

"Never go back, but sometimes going back is all that remains."

Just 18 months after signing with Al-Hilal, Neymar’s tumultuous journey in Saudi Arabia has come to an end. The Brazilian superstar and the club have agreed to terminate his contract, allowing him to return to Santos, the club where it all began. Despite Al-Hilal paying £77 million to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and granting him an eye-watering £2.5 million per week salary, Neymar will now be paid 85% of his wages for the remainder of this season—meaning he ultimately cost the club £322 million for just seven appearances, three assists, and one goal.

As with so much of Neymar’s career, it feels like a waste—a tale of talent, immense expectations, and unfulfilled potential.

🌟 The Curse of Great Expectations

From the very beginning, Neymar was trapped by his own potential. His rise coincided with Lionel Messi’s dominance, and while Argentina had seemingly found their new Diego Maradona, Brazil craved their next Pelé. When the 19-year-old Neymar scored in the 2011 Copa Libertadores final, leading Santos to their first title since Pelé’s era, it seemed he had arrived as Brazil’s new footballing messiah.

However, the weight of expectation is often heavier than any opponent. No player can truly live up to comparisons with Pelé, and Neymar soon became a prisoner of his own hype.

⚽ A Star Indulged

From early in his career, Neymar was both celebrated and shielded. His temperamental nature was evident in 2010 when he threw a tantrum after being denied a penalty in a league game, arguing with his captain and turning his back on the kick. When his coach, Dorival Júnior, attempted to discipline him, the club sacked the coach instead of punishing Neymar.

Referees also protected him, perhaps subconsciously. When he played in the 2011 Copa América, he struggled against physical defenders from Venezuela and Paraguay, unused to not getting every call. His performances were disappointing, and Brazil crashed out early, leading former midfielder Carlos Casagrande to criticize him:

"It’s always me, me, me with him. He’s forgotten—or maybe never knew—that football is a collective activity."

This Neymar-centric attitude would follow him throughout his career, especially in major international tournaments.

🇪🇸 Barcelona: Success and Scandal

At 21 years old, Neymar left Brazil for Barcelona, where his transfer was soon mired in controversy. Spanish tax authorities revealed that his fee was not the reported €57.1 million, but €86.2 million—with €45 million going directly to his parents. The scandal led to the resignation of Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and played a role in the club's financial crisis.

Initially, Neymar struggled with the pace and physicality of European football, scoring just nine goals in his first season as Barcelona won nothing. However, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was meant to be his crowning moment.

Instead, he was injured in the quarter-finals, suffering a fractured vertebra. While there was sympathy for him, his theatrics and petulance irritated many. The hysteria surrounding his injury highlighted the intense emotional pressure he faced.

The 2014-15 season was his best, as he won the treble alongside Messi and Luis Suárez, scoring in the Champions League final against Juventus. But within weeks, he self-destructed again, earning a four-game ban at the Copa América for a backwards head-butt against Colombia.

💰 The PSG Gamble: More Money, Less Meaning

In 2017, Neymar made his defining move—a world-record €222 million transfer to PSG. It was a deal that:

✅ Cemented PSG’s Qatari owners as financial powerhouses
✅ Doubled the previous transfer record, inflating the market
✅ Left Neymar as the most expensive player in history—but also one of the most unfulfilled

At PSG, he won domestic titles but never the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or he craved. Worse, injuries plagued him, and he often missed crucial knockout games.

His biggest contribution to modern football wasn’t trophies or moments of brilliance—it was his transfer distorting the financial balance of the sport.

🇸🇦 The Saudi Experiment: A £322M Mistake

After leaving PSG, Neymar’s career took an even stranger turn—he joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, signing a £2.5M per week contract. But after just seven appearances, he suffered another serious injury, and now, at 32 years old, his time in Saudi football is over.

Financially, the move was a disaster for Al-Hilal. Neymar cost them:

💰 £77 million transfer fee
💰 £2.5 million per week salary
💰 Total of £322 million for 1 goal and 7 games

It was another chapter of unfulfilled potential, a reminder that Neymar’s career was shaped as much by his talent as by the circus around him.

🏡 A Return to Santos: A Second Chance?

Now, Neymar has returned to Santos, reportedly taking a 99% pay cut (although he still receives £2.125M per week from Al-Hilal).

Does this signal a change in priorities? A realization that football is about joy, not just money?

There was a poignant moment in 2018, after Brazil’s World Cup loss to Belgium. As dawn broke over Kazan, Neymar was seen standing alone by the team bus, head bowed, crushed by disappointment. It was one of the rare moments where his vulnerability was visible—a man burdened by expectation, unable to escape his own myth.

Now, he returns to Brazil older, wiser, and perhaps humbled. But the football world will always wonder:

"What if Neymar had taken a different path?"