Renowned football superstar Neymar broke down into tears after returning to Santos on Friday as a grand reception was arranged to welcome him, headlined by a concert along with thousands of fans present at the stadium. In a video surfaced on social media, the Brazilian footballer was seen in tears before wiping them to acknowledge the crowd.
Neymar ended his lucrative contract with Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal, with media reports claiming that he will have a six-month deal with Santos. Around 20000 fans were present at the Vila Belmiro Stadium to celebrate the 32-year-old's storied return. A few local singers had also performed at the venue.
According to ESPN, Neymar's private jet landed at Sao Paulo state countryside from Saudi Arabia in the morning. However, the hectic schedule prompted the forward to request a few hours of rest before going to Santos by helicopter.
"Things happened and I had to make a decision" - Neymar on returning to Santos
During a news conference, the 32-year-old explained that he never imagined coming back to Santos as life in Saudi Arabia was going smoothly. However, a sudden turn of events prompted him to reverse it and said, as quoted by ESPN:
"There are some decisions that go beyond the logic of soccer, and some are impactful. When I was sure I was coming back, I confess that in January, at the beginning of January, I couldn't imagine coming back to Santos or leaving Al Hilal. I was very happy there, my family was very happy there, I was very adapted and full of desire to play. Things happened and I had to make a decision. I started to feel sad in training, on a day-to-day basis, and it wasn't going very well for me. The opportunity to return came up and I didn't think twice."
