Santos face July pre-contract threat for 10 players including Neymar | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Santos have 10 players whose contracts run only until the end of this year, all free to sign pre-contracts from July, Neymar among them. They could then leave at no cost at the start of next year.

Neymar has been called up by Brazil for the World Cup and has given no hint about his future. In February he left open the possibility of retiring when his Santos deal ends. In April, The Athletic reported that Cincinnati, of Major League Soccer, had interest in the No 10.

Since rejoining Santos, his priority was a Brazil recall and one last World Cup, and he is in the United States with the squad. The club want him for the second half across the Copa do Brasil, Copa Sul-Americana and the Campeonato Brasileiro, but clarity is expected only after the tournament.

Coach Cuca also has first-choice starters on the list, left-back Escobar and midfielder Willian Arão. Escobar holds the spot with deputy Vinícius Lira recovering from a serious knee injury. Arão had lost ground, then returned after João Schmidt’s injury and fitness problems for Christian Oliva and Gustavo Henrique.

With the senior group, 38-year-old Tomás Rincón also reaches the end of his deal, and he is unlikely to be in the plans for the second half, with a possible early termination.

Six others are on loan or training apart. Midfielder Patrick, signed in 2024, played 10 times for Santos and is at Remo with 19 games and one goal. Right-backs Hayner, at Vila Nova, and Nathan, at Juventude, are also out on loan.

Hayner joined permanently after making the 2024 Campeonato Paulista team of the tournament, then dipped and did not establish himself. Nathan arrived in 2022, failed to convince and was moved out after being spotted by fans at a party hours before training.

Forward Andrey Quintino, 23, has never featured for the first team, renewed early this year and is at Confiança-SE with 20 games and two goals. Centre-back Alex Nascimento and midfielder Enzo Boer train away from the main group awaiting decisions, Boer having played for Santo André in this year’s Paulistão.

Source: Globo.com