Neymar Jr dressed the Santos shirt again after more than 11 years, coinciding with his 33rd birthday. The Brazilian attacker made his reappearance in Vila Belmiro against Botafogo de Ribeirão Preto, generating great expectation in the fans.
Beyond euphoria for his return, his performance in the field left doubts about his form of form.
The coach Pedro Caixinha decided to enter the second half, when Santos had the party controlled with a 1-0 advantage after a penalty converted by Tquinho Soares. With the mythical ’10’ of Pelé, Neymar tried to lead his team, but his influence on the game was limited.
The lack of competitive rhythm became evident, and although he tried some distant dribbits and shots, he failed to make a difference.
“I need minutes, I need matches”
The match ended in a draw after Botafogo equalized after a corner, an unexpected blow to saints who did not know how to react or take advantage of his numerical superiority in the final minutes.
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“I need minutes, I need matches. I am not 100%. I didn’t imagine that I would run so much, that I would haggle so much. I think that in four or five games I will be better, ”said Neymar after finishing the game.
Despite the result, the fans preferred to keep the positive side: see its star again in the team.
Physically, the Brazilian showed to be in a more optimal state than in previous months, having controlled its weight after a long period of inactivity due to knee injury suffered in 2023.
However, his game reflected the lack of competitive continuity, something that can only recover over time and more minutes in the field.
Although his re -release was not the dream, his presence is already an important impact for Santos. The challenge is now to find its best version.
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