Neymar impressed Santos to an important win of their battle for survival, however is uncertain if he will probably be there after his contract expires on the finish of this month.
Santos are a step nearer to securing their place in Brazil’s Serie A for subsequent season after Neymar’s 17-minute hat-trick, however the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was unable to say whether or not he’ll play any half in that marketing campaign following their 3-0 win over Juventude.
Neymar has struggled for many of a troublesome 2025 season with the membership he left for Barca as a 21-year-old in 2013, with the eight-time Brazilian champions mired in a battle on the fallacious finish of the desk.
It was revealed final week that Neymar had a knee damage requiring arthroscopic surgical procedure. Nevertheless, Neymar elected to delay the process to play in Santos’ ultimate three video games of the season, and his influence of their battle for survival since has been enormous.
He scored a purpose and assisted one other in Santos’ 3-0 defeat of Sport Recife final Friday, earlier than lifting the Peixe two factors away from the relegation zone with an excellent particular person show.
Neymar opened the scoring within the 56th minute by ending off a neat crew transfer with an emphatic end into the top-right nook, after which doubled the lead 9 minutes later by slotting by way of the goalkeeper’s legs on the close to publish after being performed in down the left channel.
Within the 73rd minute he put the sport past doubt with a coolly taken penalty, placing Santos ready of power going into their ultimate recreation of the season with third-placed Cruzeiro.
Neymar non-committal on future
Neymar’s contract expires on the finish of this month, however he isn’t eager about what’s going to occur afterwards.
“I don’t know, truthfully,” the 33-year-old mentioned when requested about his future by Amazon Prime Video. “First, I need to end this season after which give it some thought. Santos at all times comes first.
“I’m very joyful for the objectives and for serving to Santos. We’re joyful for the win. There’s one recreation left, and we now have to offer our all at Vila once more.
“I at all times prioritise my well being, nothing that will hurt my profession. It’s [the injury] manageable, one thing I’ve been coping with for years. I’m doing every thing to succeed in one hundred pc. Scoring the objectives immediately made me actually joyful.
“I’ve at all times been Neymar in each match, whatever the state of affairs. Typically issues don’t go as deliberate due to the crew’s type or accidents, however I’ve at all times proven up. I do know what I can do on the pitch and at all times intention to offer my greatest.”
Vitoria are fourth backside within the ultimate relegation spot and two factors behind Santos forward of the ultimate spherical of fixtures, after they host eighth-placed São Paulo. Fortaleza and Ceara are some extent adrift of Santos and face seventh-placed Botafogo and second-placed Palmeiras respectively.
A win over Cruzeiro on Sunday will seal Santos’ place within the prime flight for an additional season however, with the groups instantly beneath all of them dealing with troublesome fixtures, it seems doubtless Neymar’s heroics towards Juventude will show to be sufficient no matter whether or not the Peixe declare a 3rd straight win.
