Victor Hugo on Neymar’s message before Santos move: "It was crucial" | OneFootball

This Friday, Santos introduced Victor Hugo, one of the reinforcements for the remainder of the season. The midfielder, presented by the idol Clodoaldo, celebrated the opportunity to wear the black and white jersey.

“It's an honor to be here next to an idol and to be welcomed in this way. I'm sure we will overcome these challenges. We are ready to start winning again and achieve great things. You can expect a lot of dedication, passion, the will to win, and to make things work. I'm eager to play and show my football. Over time, the fans will get to know me better, and we will connect. You can expect a lot of will and passion,” he said.

The 21-year-old player highlighted Neymar's importance in his negotiation with Peixe. The attacking midfielder got in touch with the young player, who idolizes the number 10. The message, in fact, made Victor Hugo set aside offers from other clubs.

“I had other options, but from the moment Neymar sent a message, it made a difference. He was the player who made me fall in love with football. He is an idol to me. It weighed in, yes. Playing and helping too. It's a giant club. It's a place I looked at and thought I could play and help. Neymar had an active role. He sent a message saying he was rooting for it to work out and that I could help. It was crucial,” he revealed.

“I had contact with Neymar already in the game against Fluminense. It was very quick with him. There's no way, the first time I saw him was at Maracanã. At the time, I joked with my wife about the craziness of seeing him up close. Now I can work with him. He has everything to help me and make me evolve. I hope to form a good partnership with him,” he celebrated.

Busy Phone

Besides Neymar, Victor Hugo received two more calls. The first was from Jorge Sampaoli, who was negotiating to be the coach of Santos. The Argentine, however, did not end up signing with Alvinegro Praiano. Thus, the Santos board hired Juan Pablo Vojvoda, who also spoke with the player.

“There was this contact with Sampaoli, he spoke with the Flamengo staff. He ended up not coming, but Vojvoda also talked to me, which was important for me too. He sees me as an 8 or 10. I can help in the midfield. I'm ready to help in the best way,” he reported.

The 21-year-old midfielder arrives on loan from Flamengo, after a stint at Göztepe, Turkey. The contract runs until July 31, 2026. He is already registered in the CBF's Daily Information Bulletin (BID).

“It's a good time, practically a year of contract, possibly reaching the end of the year. I think it will be a good and important time. I needed to play. The clause of not having a purchase option doesn't affect me. It will be good. I hope to even stay longer. I hope to stabilize, achieve victories, make things work, and renew to stay longer,” concluded Victor Hugo.

Who is Victor Hugo?

Victor Hugo is a product of Flamengo's youth academy. In 2022, he made his professional debut. In that same year, the young player also had important contributions to the team led by Dorival Júnior, which ended up winning the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores. He played 37 matches for the professional team, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

In 2023, the midfielder gained many opportunities with Jorge Sampaoli. Towards the end of the Argentine's tenure, he even became a starter – during this period, he contributed with three goals and two assists. However, he saw the scenario change after the arrival of coach Tite.

Loan to Turkish football and return to Brazil

With little space during Tite's tenure at Flamengo, Victor Hugo was loaned to Goztepe, Turkey, in August last year. In European football, the midfielder played 35 matches and scored three times.

Since returning to Flamengo, however, Victor Hugo also found himself without space. He returned to the Carioca Rubro-Negro in July this year but did not receive many chances with coach Filipe Luís. The youngster also faced high competition in Flamengo's midfield.

The midfielder only played one match wearing Flamengo's jersey this season: he came on in the last five minutes of a 1-1 draw against Ceará on August 3, away from home. After that, he was on the bench against Mirassol and was not even listed for the team's last three matches.

Thus, the move to Santos is seen positively by the player. He is expected to join Peixe to compete for a position with João Schmidt, Tomás Rincón, Gabriel Bontempo, Hyan, and Willian Arão.

Upcoming Santos matches

Atlético-MG vs. Santos (23rd round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: September 14 (Sunday), at 4:00 PM (Brasília time) Location: Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte (MG)

Santos vs. São Paulo (24th round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: September 21 (Sunday), at 8:30 PM (Brasília time) Location: Vila Belmiro, in Santos (SP)

Santos' situation in the Brasileirão

Position in the table: 16th place, with 22 points – the same score as Vitória, which opens the relegation zone.

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