Neymar clashes with fan in heated incident amid unprecedented situation at Santos

Neymar was involved in a fiery exchange with a Santos fan on Wednesday night, just moments after the Brazilian side dropped into the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat against Internacional.

It has been a season of mixed emotions for Neymar, who recently signed a contract extension with Santos until the end of the year, with an option to extend it through the 2026 World Cup.

After leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in January, he made 14 appearances on his return to the Estadio Urbano Caldeira, although an injury to his left thigh stopped him from playing regular first-team minutes.

Still, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was delighted to sign a new deal. “I made a decision and I listened to my heart,” Neymar said. “Santos is not just my team, it is my home, my roots, my history and my life."

He added: “Here I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy. And it is here that I want to fulfil the dreams that are missing in my career. And nothing will stop me."

Since penning the new deal, Neymar has been involved for Cleber Xavier's side, but they have continued to struggle in the league, with Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat against Internacional sparking frustration both on and off the pitch.

After engaging with fans in a second-half that saw Santos concede a 75th-minute penalty, the forward returned to the same area of the pitch at full-time and could be seen arguing with a fan in the stands.

As you can see from the footage below, Neymar was eventually dragged away by a teammate, while the fan in question was 'kicked out' by their own supporters, according to a report from TNT Sports BR.

It has been a disastrous campaign for Santos, who currently sit 17th in the league after picking up just four wins from a possible 15 games.

Santos suffered relegation in the not-so-distant past

For the first time in their 111-year history, Santos were relegated back in December 2023 following a 2-1 home defeat to Fortaleza, although they won promotion back to Brazil's Serie A last season.

They remain one of the most successful clubs in Brazil having won 12 state titles, six league titles and two Copas Libertadores during their golden era of the '50s and '60s, but this recent spell of form will concern supporters.