Neymar gets savage welcome back to Brazil within three minutes of second Santos debut
Neymar’s second Santos debut was one to remember for the Brazil superstar. After coming on as a second-half substitute, Neymar was welcomed with a feisty two-footed tackle. Neymar was welcomed back with a strong two-footed tackleTNT Sports Neymar returned to Santos after 12 yearsTNT Sports However, despite his well-documented injury problems, he emerged unscathed and it did not dampen a truly special occasion. The forward was unveiled to his former club before the match against Botafogo. During the unveiling at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, he said: “I am very happy. We lived great moments here. There’s still a lot that could come.” Neymar said he had ‘no words’ to describe the feeling of being back with his former side. “I love Santos,” he said. “I have no words to describe what I felt tonight when I stepped again on this pitch. “I need minutes, games. I’m not at 100%. I didn’t expect to run and dribble so much tonight. I think I’ll feel better in four or five games.” The 33-year-old left Al Hilal after an injury-blighted time in the Saudi Pro League and joined his former side on 31 January. It’s been 12 years since he had played for Santos, during which time he became the most expensive player of all time when he left Barcelona for PSG in a £200m deal in 2017. At Santos previously, he won six trophies, including the 2011 Copa Libertadores. He left the Brazilian side with 136 goals in 225 games before the age of 21 and returns now aged 33 looking to add to that tally. Neymar’s first minutes as a Santos player again were met with a huge tackleGetty Neymar left Al Hilal by mutual agreement after playing just seven gamesGetty Mauro Horita / GettyThe Brazilian striker returned to his boyhood club 12 years after he left to join Barcelona[/caption] Santos fought back from a 1-0 deficit to earn a 1-1 draw with Botafogo, and after the game many of the opposition players and staff wanted photos with Neymar. Neymar’s glittering career has seen him win two Spanish titles, five French titles, a Champions League, three Copa del Rey and three French Cups. With Brazil, he has won Olympic gold on home turf in 2016, as well as a number of individual accolades. These include the 2011 Puskas Award and a record six Samba Gold awards. Donning the iconic No 10 shirt for his second stint at Santos, Neymar is emulating Brazil hero Pele. Fans were heard chanting for him to dribble – one of his signature footballing skills – to which he replied: “I will not lack boldness [to dribble].”
Neymar’s second Santos debut was one to remember for the Brazil superstar.
After coming on as a second-half substitute, Neymar was welcomed with a feisty two-footed tackle.
However, despite his well-documented injury problems, he emerged unscathed and it did not dampen a truly special occasion.
The forward was unveiled to his former club before the match against Botafogo.
During the unveiling at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, he said: “I am very happy. We lived great moments here. There’s still a lot that could come.”
Neymar said he had ‘no words’ to describe the feeling of being back with his former side.
“I love Santos,” he said. “I have no words to describe what I felt tonight when I stepped again on this pitch.
“I need minutes, games. I’m not at 100%. I didn’t expect to run and dribble so much tonight. I think I’ll feel better in four or five games.”
The 33-year-old left Al Hilal after an injury-blighted time in the Saudi Pro League and joined his former side on 31 January.
It’s been 12 years since he had played for Santos, during which time he became the most expensive player of all time when he left Barcelona for PSG in a £200m deal in 2017.
At Santos previously, he won six trophies, including the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
He left the Brazilian side with 136 goals in 225 games before the age of 21 and returns now aged 33 looking to add to that tally.
Santos fought back from a 1-0 deficit to earn a 1-1 draw with Botafogo, and after the game many of the opposition players and staff wanted photos with Neymar.
Neymar’s glittering career has seen him win two Spanish titles, five French titles, a Champions League, three Copa del Rey and three French Cups.
With Brazil, he has won Olympic gold on home turf in 2016, as well as a number of individual accolades.
These include the 2011 Puskas Award and a record six Samba Gold awards.
Donning the iconic No 10 shirt for his second stint at Santos, Neymar is emulating Brazil hero Pele.
Fans were heard chanting for him to dribble – one of his signature footballing skills – to which he replied: “I will not lack boldness [to dribble].”
