Neymar's return to Santos in January didn't go as well as Brazilian fans had hoped, playing just three games in the Brazilian League with no goals or assists. In his last game under his current contract, he received a red card after trying to score a goal with his hand in a match against Botafogo, keeping his team in the relegation zone.
Despite the lack of a major contribution on the pitch with a performance far below expectations, Santos had hoped that Neymar would renew his contract (which expires at the end of June) to keep the idol until the end of the Brazilian season, but the top scorer seems to have plans to play in the Club World Cup and face Real Madrid.
The latest reports in the Spanish press indicate that Neymar is in active contact with representatives of Pachuca to play for the Mexican team during the FIFA tournament in the United States. Neymar's possible arrival is seen as temporary, with this being a historic sporting and commercial opportunity.
Pachuca believe that Neymar will have a special motivation in playing in a competition that is being eagerly awaited by Mexican fans, without the need to sign a long-term contract. The 32-team format will allow for the signing of one-off reinforcements, opening the way for negotiations that were previously unconventional in world soccer.
If a contract is signed by June 10, Neymar will receive US$5 million from Pachuca and will become the most expensive signing in Liga MX history. Talks are at a preliminary stage, with physical recovery also a key factor in the deal.
Neymar didn't please Santos on his return
Neymar returned to Brazil with high expectations, but his brightest moment came between February and April, with the least challenging games on the calendar in the São Paulo State Championship. Neymar has yet to score against teams in the Brazilian League, with two thigh injuries between April and the beginning of June casting doubt on his current ability to perform at a high competitive level.