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May 10, 2024

Is a Neymar Comeback to Santos Possible to Revitalize His Childhood Club? – Brazilian Serie A

Credits to Brazilian Serie A Image Gallery

Just over a week ago, Neymar made a swift trip from Miami to the Santos stadium, the very place where his journey began, to witness a local final against Palmeiras. He was welcomed back like a celebrated hero, although his presence may spark mixed feelings among some. Nonetheless, Santos is one of the few places where the support for him remains overwhelmingly strong. During his remarkable four years with the club, he led Santos to their first CONMEBOL Libertadores title since the Pelé era in the early 1960s, marking a historic achievement.

Fans are eager for him to replicate that success in the future. As he took to social media to declare himself an “Eternal kid from the Vila” (referring to Vila Belmiro, the stadium’s name), supporters enthusiastically chanted for his return. Could he come back? Might it actually happen? It certainly remains a possibility.

Former great Rivaldo certainly thinks so. “There is a big chance that he will return,” he told Betfair. “Everyone knows about the affection that Neymar feels for Santos, where he is an idol. After years in Europe and Saudi Arabia, he doesn’t need anything from a financial point of view. He could come back and play in Serie A for Santos and be close to the Brazilian fans as he prepares for the next World Cup.”

It’s a fascinating possibility. Currently, Neymar who has been sidelined since November due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury will become a free agent in the middle of next year, at the age of 33, when his contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal concludes. This aligns well with Rivaldo’s vision. The timing could be ideal for Neymar to return and prepare for what is likely to be his final shot at the World Cup in 2026. Such a move would serve as excellent public relations, allowing him to don the colors of a storied club for a symbolic salary. 

However, there is a significant drawback: unless Santos secures promotion this year, Neymar would be gearing up for the World Cup while playing in Brazil’s second division. This season, following the passing of Pelé, has been particularly tumultuous for Santos, with the legendary player’s mausoleum overlooking the stadium. The club faced relegation for the first time in its illustrious history, an event that, coupled with the riots that ensued, captured global headlines. Many were taken aback, but perhaps they shouldn’t have been.

In the first season following Pelé’s passing, and with the legend’s mausoleum overlooking the stadium, Santos faced relegation for the first time in their storied history. This momentous event, along with the subsequent riots in the streets, captured headlines around the globe. Many were left in shock, though perhaps they shouldn’t have been. 

Santos is a remarkable phenomenon, but even miracles have their limits. No other club in Brazil compares to them. While other major traditional teams hail from the large state capitals, Santos originates from a port city that thrived during the coffee boom, yet its population is under half a million. This small city is overshadowed by the nearby metropolis of São Paulo, just an hour away when traffic permits.

It is truly remarkable that a club representing such a modest city, by Brazilian standards, could consistently triumph over giants for so long. The arrival of a teenage Pelé transformed an already exceptional team into an even greater force. Throughout the 1960s, Santos could arguably claim to be the best club in the world.

It was only a matter of time before things changed. Once Pelé departed, Santos experienced a decline, but they made a strong comeback in the current century, establishing themselves as one of the world’s leading developers of youth talent. However, warning signs were already visible. In recent years, Brazilian clubs have discovered how to capitalize on their fan bases, with revenues surging from television deals, sponsorships, and membership programs. Yet, this influx of cash has not been evenly distributed. Significant disparities have emerged, making it increasingly challenging for a smaller club to compete. Currently, Vila Belmiro stadium has a capacity of fewer than 18,000.

Santos has continued to outperform expectations through their youth development. They’ve benefited on the pitch from talents like Diego Ribas, Robinho, Neymar, Danilo, and more recently, Rodrygo. These players not only contributed to the team’s success but also helped balance the budget through lucrative transfer fees. However, clubs like Santos are acutely aware of the trade-offs. Ultimately, they must sell players earlier, which forces the next generation into action sooner—sometimes leading to pressure that can overwhelm young talents trying to fill the shoes of their celebrated predecessors.

In the meantime, club directors often panic, cycling through coach after coach and making desperate signings that strain their finances. Just last week, a meeting resulted in the rejection of the 2023 financial accounts, and the then-president, like his four predecessors, faces the risk of expulsion from the club.

Rodrigo Capelo, Brazil’s foremost expert in football finance, is concerned. “Santos ended 2023 already having spent some of the money from 2024,” he says, explaining that the club took an advance on some of the TV revenue. “And now they are not in the first division, and they are not even in the [very lucrative] domestic cup, and their other lines of revenue are weak — sponsorship, ticket sales, membership schemes. The source of revenue that from time to time has been saving Santos is player sales.”

However, there is no potential big-money wonderkid around at the moment. “There is a bomb ticking away,” Capelo says. “And at the end of this year, we’ll have a better idea of just how big it is. This is just a guess at this point, but it could be that even if they manage to win promotion to the first division, then the situation will be so dire, with the need to invest in a new stadium and improve youth development, that the way out will be to turn into a business.

“I’m not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing, but the club situation could make this a necessity.”

In recent years, legal reforms have made this transition feasible. Traditionally, Brazilian teams operated as social membership clubs, but now they can be bought and owned by both domestic and international investors. Prominent clubs like Cruzeiro and Botafogo have already embraced this shift. As Capelo suggests, the rich history and prestige of Santos position them as a prime candidate for such a transformation.

“While Neymar was still at Paris Saint-Germain, his father (and business manager Neymar Snr.) was trying to act as a bridge between Santos and the Qataris, he says. “He took the idea to [then-president] Andres Rueda, who was not impressed — and the idea died at the moment that Neymar left PSG. I don’t know, but it is possible that now he is thinking of moving on the same lines with the Saudis.”

Could Santos become the South American equivalent of Newcastle? One of their jerseys does feature the iconic black and white stripes. The current president, Marcelo Teixeira, is returning for his third term in office and is considered close to Neymar Sr. It will be intriguing to see if any business developments emerge in the coming year.

Neymar Jr. brought some luck to Santos during the first leg of the local final, where they managed to defeat Palmeiras 1-0. However, a week later, they suffered a 2-0 loss in the return match, resulting in Palmeiras being crowned champions of São Paulo state. While winning the tournament would have boosted morale, the real challenge—securing promotion back to the first division—begins this weekend with the start of the national leagues.

On a positive note, it appears that Santos has navigated around a worldwide transfer ban imposed by FIFA for failing to pay fees to other clubs. There’s hope that an agreement has been reached with the Russian club Krasnodar. To aid in the negotiations, Santos enlisted former goalkeeper Edinho, famously known as Pelé’s son. His charm, fluent English, and family ties seem to have played a key role in brokering a deal.

For many fans, the ultimate dream is that by the middle of next year, a transfer will occur without any financial exchange, allowing one of the club’s legendary figures to return—Neymar Jr. once again wearing the illustrious white jersey of Santos.

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