Neymar’s highly anticipated return to Santos in February has not gone according to plan. The Brazilian star has struggled with recurring injuries—just as he did in recent years—and the club currently finds itself in the relegation zone. Amid the crisis, Santos CEO Pedro Martins spoke candidly about the situation, stating, “Neymar’s not going to work miracles.”
Santos made a celebrated return to Brazil’s top flight in 2025 after being relegated for the first time in club history in 2023. With Neymar back in the squad, expectations soared, and many believed the team could contend for the title. However, that optimism quickly faded as the club struggled in his absence.
Since Neymar’s latest injury, Santos has lost three league matches and drawn one, dropping to 19th place with just five points from eight games—only ahead of Sport Recife, who sit last with two. Speaking at a conference at the University of São Paulo, Martins addressed the mounting pressure.
“We’re ki— ourselves—I’m not even sleeping—to get Santos out of the relegation zone and bring the club back to where it belongs: the first page, 10th place, 8th place, 6th place. That will depend on our competence. But my stance has been to show, based on my experience, what I’ve been through, and what I study every day, what needs to be done for Santos to take the right steps to return to the top tier of football and stay there.”
Martins also commented on the board’s ambitious goals for the season. “At Santos, the board’s directive was different—they wanted to skip steps, not just fight to avoid relegation, but already aim for a spot in a South American competition, already push for the top of the table,” said the CEO.
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Santos, Neymar, and the weight of expectations
After an injury-plagued stint with Al Hilal, Neymar agreed to terminate his contract and return to Santos. The move sparked massive excitement among fans and brought a wave of new sponsorship deals, but the team’s on-field results haven’t matched the hype.
While Neymar continues his recovery, tensions have boiled over. Protests have erupted among supporters, including an organized fan invasion at the Rei Pelé training ground. Amid the turmoil, Martins addressed the unrealistic expectations placed on Neymar.
“Sometimes we expect Neymar to work miracles. Neymar is not going to work miracles. He’s an incredible player, a genius. But he’s not going to lift an entire building on his own. Santos needs to face its reality in order to become competitive. Otherwise, it’ll fall far behind. And by the time it wakes up, it’ll be too late.”
Neymar suffered a tear in the semimembranosus muscle of his left thigh during an April 16 match against Atletico Mineiro, as confirmed by the club. Now in the final stages of recovery, and with a contract renewal reportedly on the table, both Neymar and Santos will need to work together to steer the team clear of another potential stain on its storied history.
