Neymarthat on Wednesday he played his first 45 minutes after returning to Santos Brazilian said he was happy with the football he exhibited after several months without acting professionally and said he did not think he would resist so much time or run so much.
The former player of Barcelona and the French PSG, although he only acted in the second half and thanks to the flashes of good football he showed, he was chosen as the best player of the game in which Santos tied 1-1 with the Ribeirao Preto Botafogo for the Paulista championship. “Today I felt very good. I expected to run less than I ran. But I am happy with my game, I felt at home and did what I like to do,” said the attacker in statements he granted to the press after the game.
Neymar only needed part time to confirm as the new generator of danger plays of saints, with precise passes, depth releases, skilled dribbles and invasions of the area. “It is a sadness to end my birthday with the bitter taste of the draw, but the fans have to be patient, because this team will improve already give it many joys,” said the idol of the Brazilian team that, by coincidence, celebrated This Wednesday his 33 years.
Neymar, who last Friday signed a contract that compromises him for six months with Santos, returned practically without having acted in almost a year and a half because the knee surgeries to which he was submitted in October 2023 had it away of the courts for about a year, until October 2024, since other inconvenience prevented him from playing for the Saudi al-Hilal.
Four or five more games to be better
“Although I almost scored a goal, I still need minutes, games. I’m not 100 %. I didn’t imagine that I was going to run so much. I think in 4 or 5 games I will be better,” he said. The attacker said that, despite his few professional actions in the last year, he had a training base in the Al-Hilal and juice about 80 minutes in friendlies. “I could have played more time today, but let’s go calmly,” he said.
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On his return to Santos, a club he left twelve years ago to begin his successful European career for Barcelona, he said it is difficult to find words to express what he felt when playing again for the club in which he formed and loves. “I am sure that Santos will change a lot from now on, the team will fit and will make the fans very happy,” he said.
