According to L'Équipe, injured Neymar has begun playing the role of manager and recruiter behind the scenes at Santos. NR Sports, a sports marketing company owned by the Neymar family, paid 2 million euros to help the club lift a FIFA transfer ban, after which Neymar became involved in recruiting Arthur, Everton, and Coutinho.

The 34-year-old Neymar has been unable to play since suffering a thigh injury in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Palmeiras (0-0) on September 2, and has since taken on a behind-the-scenes role at the club, transitioning from player to manager and recruiter. However, before Santos could begin this new chapter, the club first needed to lift the FIFA transfer ban that had been imposed on it. The punishment stemmed from a dispute between Santos and Monaco over the Jean Lucas transfer.

Jean Lucas joined Santos in July 2023 and currently plays for Bahia. Monaco demanded 2 million euros from Santos for the transfer. Santos was found guilty in May 2025, and a subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected. On July 1, FIFA banned Santos from making transfers for three transfer windows.

Next, NR Sports, the sports marketing company owned by the Neymar family, paid off Santos' debt. In return, the company received advertising space on club equipment. Shortly after, the "Pelé" brand, which was acquired by NR Sports, also appeared on Santos' famous black-and-white jersey. Currently, Santos sits in 13th place in the Brazilian league. After the transfer ban was lifted, Neymar began recruiting players he trusted.

First was Arthur. This former Grêmio prospect never quite lived up to expectations in European football. Whether at Barcelona (2018-2020), Juventus (2020-2022), or Liverpool (2022-2023), the midfielder never truly became a key player. However, Arthur made 22 appearances for the Brazilian national team under Tite. Now 30 years old, he said he was ready for a fresh start. Given his close relationship with Neymar, convincing Arthur to join was not difficult, and he signed a short-term contract with Santos through December 2026.

The situation was similar for Everton. This 30-year-old winger made 25 appearances for the Brazilian national team, scoring 3 goals. Since joining Flamengo from Benfica in 2022, he has won every major trophy there, but his form with the team has recently stalled. On his decision, Everton Cebolinha said: "I was close to going to Russia to play, but the idea of being able to play with Neymar influenced my decision. After talking with him, I felt I had to go there."

Coutinho, meanwhile, took longer to accept his friend's invitation. The 32-year-old Coutinho ended his contract with Vasco da Gama in February this year, when retirement had become a realistic possibility. However, the prospect of playing alongside Neymar again ultimately convinced the former Liverpool magician to return to football.

Coutinho and Neymar played together in the 2009 U-17 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup. Coutinho played for Liverpool from 2012 to 2018. Now, they hope to reach the Copa Sudamericana final. Santos is currently on course to reach the semi-final after defeating Atlético Mineiro 2-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final. Bruno Lima, a journalist for UOL, commented: "These new recruits are past their prime, but they can still improve the team. Currently, fans aren't thinking about the potential financial consequences of this operation, because ultimately, someone will have to pay for this investment. But the fans have regained their ambition. They're going crazy now, and they love this Neymar who has become the 'CEO'!"

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com