Neymaris highly awaited return to Santos 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 is currently in the relegation zone. In the middle of the crisis, Santo’s CEO Pedro Martins talked genuinely about the situation and noted: “Neymars will not work miracles. “
Santos made a famous return to Brasil’s top flight in 2025 after being moved for the first time in club history in 2023. With Neymar back in the squad, expectations rose and many thought the team could fight for the title. But that optimism faded quickly as the club fought in his absence.
Since Neymar’s latest injury, Santos has lost three league matches and drawn one and dropped to 19th place by just five points from eight games—A just before Sport Recife, which sits last with two. Martins spoke at a conference at the University of São Paulo and dealt with the increasing pressure.
“We are KI – ourselves – I don’t even sleep – to get Santos out of the relegation zone and bring the club back where it belongs: the first page, 10th place, 8th place, 6th place. It will depend on our expertise. But my attitude has been to show, based on my experience, what I have gone through and what I study every day, what needs to be done for Santos to take the right steps to return to the football level and stay there. “
Martins also commented on the Board’s ambitious goal of the season. “At Santos, the Board’s directive was different – they wanted to skip steps, not just fight to avoid relocation, but already strives for a place in a South American competitionalready press for the top of the table“Said CEO.
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Santos, Neymar and the importance of expectations
After an injured stint with Al Hilal, Neymar agreed to terminate his contract and return to Santos. The move led to a massive tension among the fans and brought a wave of new sponsorship agreementsBut the team’s results in the field have not matched the hype.
While Neymar continues its recovery, tensions have cooked over. Protests have outbursts among supporters, including an organized fans invasion at the Rei Pelé training site. In the middle of the turmoil, Martins took the unrealistic expectations of Neymar.
“Sometimes we expect Neymar to work miracles. Neymar will not work miracles. He is an incredible player, a genius. But he will not lift an entire building on his own. Santos must meet his reality in order to become competitive. Otherwise, it will fall far behind. And When it wakes it will be too late. “
Neymar got a tear in the semimembranosus muscle in his left thigh during a match on April 16 against Atletico Mineiroas confirmed by the club. Now in the final stages of the recovery, and with a contract renewal reportedly on the table, both Neymar and Santos will have to work together to control the team that is away from another potential spot in their storied history.
