Santos president makes Neymar’s renewal a top priority: “We’re in talks” | OneFootball

With the season's end and the year drawing to a close, Santos has begun to set its priorities for the next season. The main one, at the moment, is the renewal of Neymar, at least according to president Marcelo Teixeira.

Neymar's contract with Santos is only valid until the end of this season. Since returning to the Peixe at the end of January 2025, the attacking midfielder has played 28 matches, scored 11 goals, and provided four assists.

“Neymar's renewal is Santos' priority at this moment. Everything depends on a budget, we have a budget based on what we can spend. We are talking and negotiating to find a common ground, adjusting Neymar's current contract for 2026,” highlighted the Santos president at an event organized by the CBF to award the best of the Brasileirão.

“There is good intention on his part, from NR [Sports], the player, and from Santos, which is already a good start. Now, in this adjustment, we need to reach a positive financial conclusion for both sides,” Teixeira added.

(Photos: Raul Baretta/ Santos FC)

Santos waited for the end of the Brazilian Championship to know if they would remain in Serie A and how Neymar would finish the season. In the end, the Peixe secured their place in the top tier, while the star played through pain, with a sore left knee, and was a key player in the team's final stretch of the tournament.

“Neymar has several contexts. There is a context on and off the field. We have to continue the project that Santos is having in all the increases, disposition, and partner products we have achieved, not only in exposure but in expanding our assets. We also wanted to observe Neymar on the field, we are observing an improvement, progress,” stated Teixeira.

“We wanted to see him physically, as we are having this way he has been playing and helping Santos this year of 2025. We wanted to see what Neymar's reaction would be because if it was positive off the field in increasing our revenue, we wanted to see him directly on the field. This also gives greater optimism, the way he finished the championship,” concluded the leader.

The Santos board remains optimistic about Neymar's renewal. The football director Alexandre Mattos and the vice-president Fernando Bonavides have shown confidence in recent days when asked about the matter, while coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda highlighted the importance of the number 10 for the team.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.