Neymar is in talks to join a huge European club in a controversial transfer that could spark anger from fans of his former side.
Neymar is currently playing for Santos, the club where he began his career, but the team is struggling—winning just four of their first 16 matches and now sitting in the relegation zone.
This challenging run has caused growing friction between Neymar and the club’s fans. Following a 2-1 loss to Internacional last week, Neymar was involved in a heated exchange with a supporter in the stands, only to be pulled away by a teammate.
Amid these tensions, rumors are intensifying that the 33-year-old could be preparing to leave Santos and make a return to European football.
According to TyC Sports, Marseille are currently leading the race to sign him. The move would be especially controversial, given that Marseille are the arch-rivals of Neymar’s former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
The two sides clash in Le Classique, France’s biggest football rivalry, featuring its most successful teams. Although PSG have dominated the fixture in recent years, Neymar joining Marseille would undoubtedly provoke a strong reaction from PSG fans.
Neymar made headlines in 2017 when he left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain for a record-breaking €222 million (£192 million) transfer fee.
During his six seasons in Paris, he won five Ligue 1 titles and played a key role in the club’s domestic dominance. However, he fell short of delivering the ultimate prize—the UEFA Champions League. Despite helping lead PSG to the final in 2020, persistent injuries often saw him miss critical knockout matches.
In 2023, Neymar made another high-profile move, this time to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal for £77.6 million. But his stint in the Saudi Pro League proved disastrous. An ACL injury early on sidelined him for much of the campaign. Before his contract was eventually terminated, he managed just one goal and three assists in seven appearances.
Neymar returned to Brazil hoping to rediscover his form ahead of next summer’s World Cup. While his homecoming was met with great excitement, his performances on the pitch have been underwhelming. Nevertheless, Santos recently extended his contract through the end of 2025.
Despite that, rumors persist about a potential return to France—this time with Marseille. Following their second-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, Marseille have secured a spot in the Champions League, giving Neymar a platform to showcase his talent against top-level competition.
The club is currently led by highly regarded former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and boasts a promising squad featuring players like Mason Greenwood, Adrien Rabiot, and Amine Gouiri. Given these factors, Marseille could present an appealing option for Neymar as he looks to rebuild his reputation ahead of the World Cup.
