Santos Boss Teixeira responds to the speculations of Neymar's European return

Brazilian football club Santos FC's president, Marcelo Teixeira, has provided an update on Neymar's future, addressing speculation regarding interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Neymar's tenure at the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal was marred by injuries that led to the termination of his contract this season. He managed to appear in only 7 fixtures for the decorated Asian club. He netted only one goal and recorded one assist for the Blues. Neymar chose to return to Brazil on a short-term contract with his boyhood club, Santos FC, following the termination of his contract. The magician has been in fine form since returning to his homeland.

His good form saw him getting elected to the 26-member nation-side for the upcoming FIFA window. The prince intends to play for Brazil in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. There are prevalent speculations surrounding Neymar and his links with his former club, Barcelona, as he has been touted for a return to European football.

Santos's Boss hopeful for Neymar's extended stay

However, Santos Boss Teixeira doesn't approve of such claims and is hopeful that Neymar is going to extend his stay at Santos. He feels Neymar is very committed to the club's project and the bunch of upcoming talents who see him as an idol.

“The hardest part is already done, which was having him here. We'll see the club's technical response and results; we're working on sponsorships... he's already shown he's not worried about the financial aspect. The entire technical committee supported him in his matches; everyone supports Santos, and the entire country does. And that will influence the possibility of him staying here in the near future. The national team has called him back,” he said.

“He's very committed to the project and the players, who see him as a role model. The rest of the team trusts him. He's committed to the project and the group of players,” he added.

Neither Barcelona nor Bayern Munich have given any clear indication in their pursuit of Neymar and only time will dictate whether the magician intends to prolong his club career in Brazil.