Neymar now finds himself at the center of rising tension at Santos. ESPN reported that the Brazilian star issued a long message on social media on Thursday, where he made it clear that he would not hesitate to leave the club if supporters felt he was becoming a burden.
In his words, “The day the supporters feel I’m no longer helping, I’ll be the first to pack my bags.” This message came shortly after a heated exchange between Neymar and a fan following Santos’ 2-1 home loss to Internacional.
That defeat pushed the team back into the relegation zone. Neymar, who returned to Santos in early 2025 after dealing with injuries during his time at Al-Hilal, has played only seven matches in the league since his return, managing just one goal so far.
His Response and Emotional Struggles
Neymar explained that his return to Santos was motivated by the desire to lift the club. He said he would not hesitate to run, shout, and fight if that was what it would take to return the team to a better position. But he also shared how difficult it is to hold back when insults become personal.
According to him, supporters have the freedom to express their opinions about his performance, but targeting his family or calling him a mercenary goes too far.
Club Situation and National Team Hopes
Though the supporter later issued an apology for how he spoke to Neymar, the forward defended the way he reacted during the moment.
Neymar now has a little over a month to prove his fitness, with hopes of being selected by Brazil’s coach Carlo Ancelotti for the final qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil has already booked its place in the competition.
