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Former Barcelona star 'opens door' to join Neymar at Santos with negotiations underway

Home> Football> La Liga> FC Barcelona

Updated 22:53 30 Jan 2025 GMTPublished 22:54 30 Jan 2025 GMT

Former Barcelona star 'opens door' to join Neymar at Santos with negotiations underway

Neymar could be joined by another former Barcelona star at Santos after negotiations were opened.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Neymar could well be joined by another former Barcelona star at Santos after he sealed a dream return to his boyhood club.

After a nightmare spell in Saudi Arabia where he made just seven appearances, Neymar has terminated his contract with Al Hilal and returned to his first club Santos after more than 12 years away.

The 32-year-old is expected to sign a short-term deal with Santos, where he scored 36 goals in 225 games after coming through the academy.

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Neymar had been heavily courted by MLS side Chicago Fire but rejected the offer to head back to his native Brazil for unfinished business.

"I just can't hold it in until tomorrow - I'll sign the contract at Santos," Neymar said in a social media video.

"I've been wishing for this moment to come true for a long time. It's been more than 12 years since I left but it seems like it was yesterday.

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"My feelings for the club and fans have never changed."

The excitement for his second spell is already through the roof but Santos could well have another big hitter join the ranks ahead of their return to the Brazilian top flight.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arthur Melo has "opened the doors" to joining Santos in a loan deal which would contain an option to buy.

The transfer expert claims that negotiations are ongoing regarding the move, with Santos hopeful of a salary share being agreed with parent club Juventus.

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Arthur Melo looks set to sign on loan for Santos. Image: Getty
Arthur Melo looks set to sign on loan for Santos. Image: Getty

Melo left Gremio for Barcelona in 2018 and won La Liga in his first season. He then moved to Juventus in a 2020 swap deal which saw Miralem Pjanic head in the opposite direction, making 63 appearances for the club.

He spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Liverpool but endured a disastrous spell in England, playing just once.

Melo had a much more productive team at Fiorentina last season, where he played 48 times, but he has once again found himself surplus to requirements at Juve and will now look to get his career going again back home.

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Santos were promoted back to the Brazilian Serie A last season after winning the second division and achieving automatic promotion.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Barcelona, Santos, Neymar

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

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@joshlawless_

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