‘Feels like I’m going back in time’: Neymar confirms emotional Santos return

Neymar has confirmed he will be re-joining boyhood club Santos, 12 years after he first left to join Barcelona as one of the most promising youngsters to ever come out of Brazil.

Neymar has confirmed he will be re-joining boyhood club Santos, 12 years after he first left to join Barcelona as one of the most promising youngsters to ever come out of Brazil. The Seleção forward announced his return in an emotional video on Thursday, saying he felt like he was “going back in time.” The move comes just days after it was announced that Neymar and Al-Hilal had mutually agreed to part ways just 18 months after the 32-year-old joined the Saudi club in a high-profile move for a reported €90 million ($98.5M). Injuries, including a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament just two months after joining, limited Neymar to just seven appearances and one goal for Al-Hilal. “I’ll sign the contract with Santos Futebol Clube,” Neymar said in the video. “I want to thank my fans from all over the world, wishing for this moment to come true for a long time. “It’s been nearly 12 years since I left the most famous Vila in the world – and it seems like it was yesterday. My feelings for the club and fans have never changed.”