Neymar’s Return to Santos: First Start Sparks Media Criticism
The Brazilian media have expressed their disappointment following Neymar’s underwhelming first start since his emotional return to Santos, his boyhood club.
The football superstar’s journey back to Santos came after a brief stint with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, where he made just seven appearances following his £77.6 million transfer. While his initial substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw against Botafogo showed promise, his first start proved far less impressive.
Donning the legendary No.10 shirt previously worn by Pele, Neymar captained Santos against Novorizontino at the Jorjao stadium. Despite playing 75 minutes, the match ended in a goalless draw, marking Santos’ second consecutive shared points and pushing them outside the league’s qualifying zone.
Performance Analysis and Media Response
Brazilian media outlets were quick to assess Neymar’s performance:
• Placar noted: “Neymar, a star who was expected to shine, had a discreet performance. Expectations surrounding Neymar have not been translated into decisive plays.”
• A Tribuna labeled the match as a “poor performance” from both Neymar and the entire Santos team.
Key statistics from the match revealed:
– 24 balls lost
– Only 4 successful ground duels out of 16
– 1 successful dribble from 8 attempts
Santos manager Pedro Caixinha provided context to Neymar’s performance, explaining that the 33-year-old played 15 minutes more than initially planned. “We want him to have a sequence of games. The most important thing is that this sequence is well planned,” Caixinha stated. “He has a great desire and availability to do things, and that is also evident.”
Despite the challenging start, Caixinha maintains optimism about the team’s title prospects. The manager’s focus remains on carefully managing Neymar’s playing time to help him regain his match rhythm and form.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star’s return to Santos represents a significant moment in Brazilian football, though early indicators suggest a period of adjustment lies ahead.
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Topics: Neymar, Football, Brazil, Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
Featured Image Credit: Getty/CazeTV
