In a recent interview with Flashscore, Norberto Goncalves, Santos’ financial director, left no doubt about the club’s interest to have their former star and club icon Neymar back, and stated that the former Barça star has interest in returning home too and therefore putting an end to his time at Al-Hilal, in Saudi Arabia, which has not been anywhere near what Neymar or the club expected due to the Brazilian’s knee injury.
Santos’ financial director said: “There is interest from Santos… There’s interest from Neymar too, but obviously, it doesn’t depend on him alone, just as it doesn’t depend on Santos alone. It’s a complex operation. He’s still linked to Al Hilal”, a side that has no financial difficulties and that might be reluctant to let one of the biggest superstars in the Saudi Pro League go.
Gonçalves has no doubts about the feasibility of the transfer, “If he comes, I don’t have to worry too much about the financial side. He pays for himself, just with his presence, shirt sales, tickets, etc. But it’s a complex operation that doesn’t just depend on the club or the player”, and continues explaining “this audience, with the presence of Neymar, could bring Santos an extra R$40 million ($6.8 million) to R$60 million a year ($10 million), in addition to other income that will be generated.”
Santos’ project could be interesting for Neymar beyond his playing career, which, now at 32 years old, might be coming to a closure soon enough, “this partnership has potential, even when he stops playing. This will continue, even when he stops his career, this is already being thought about, there is already a project for this with both sides involved.”
You can read the full interview here
