aNeymar returned to Santos, the club he grew up with, in January last year after an unforgettable time in Saudi football. His return has been mired in controversy, including clashes with fans and the press, and internal tensions with some teammates and the São Paulo club board.
Sportingly speaking, the situation is pushed to the edge. With four rounds left in the Brazilian season, Santos are in 16th place with 37 points, just one point above the Serie B relegation zone.
Neymar faces backlash after failing rainbow flick twice in viral video
But the problem goes far beyond the pitch. According to Brazilian media, the club has a net debt of more than 150 million euros (977 million reais), and a new relegation (already completed in 2023) could further worsen the economics of one of the historic Brazilian football clubs.
In this scenario, the board is considering the drastic step of converting Santos into Sociedad Anonyma (SA) and selling up to 90% of the new entity’s capital to private investors.
The club is valued at 2.2 billion reais, approximately 346 million euros, making it one of the most important deals in Brazilian football history.
Chelsea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia interested
Although it hasn’t been officially launched yet, it’s already garnering international interest. Chelsea, through its parent company Blueco, are said to have approached PSG’s owner Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) about the possibility of acquiring the club as well.
