At 34, Neymar is still a professional footballer, at least formally, but he has found a way to help Santos off the pitch. Sidelined with a thigh injury since 2 September, when he suffered yet another setback during the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Palmeiras, the former Seleção No. 10 has taken on a new role: part club executive, part figure behind the club’s transfer business. In effect, O Ney has helped his club resolve a fairly significant problem: the FIFA-imposed ban on incoming transfers following a dispute with Monaco. A brief recap. The principality club was claiming €2 million over the July 2023 transfer of Jean Lucas, now at Bahia. Found liable in May 2025, Santos saw its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected, and on 1 July FIFA banned the Brazilian club from making signings for three transfer windows. At that point, NR Sports, the Neymar family’s marketing company, paid off Santos’ debts in exchange for the advertising space available on the club’s shirts. Soon afterwards, the Pelé brand, acquired by NR Sports, also appeared on Santos’ famous black-and-white jerseys.
Once the transfer ban had been lifted, Neymar could turn his attention to bringing in players he knew and trusted. First came Arthur, the former Grêmio wonderkid who never managed to live up to expectations in Europe. From Barcelona, where he played between 2018 and 2020, to Juventus (2020–22) and then Liverpool (2022/23), the midfielder never really established himself as a central figure. He nevertheless won 22 caps for Tite’s Brazil and, at 30, is convinced he can revive his career. His relationship with Neymar made the move straightforward, and Arthur signed a short-term contract running until December 2026.
The same went for Everton Cebolinha, who made 25 appearances and scored three goals for the Seleção before losing his place at Flamengo, having won practically everything since arriving from Benfica in 2022. “I wasn’t far from signing in Russia, but the idea of playing with Neymar was a factor. I spoke to him and felt I had to come,” the 30-year-old forward said. Philippe Coutinho, too, resisted his friend’s efforts for a long time. At 34, after terminating his contract with Vasco da Gama in February, he appeared to be edging towards retirement. The chance to play alongside Neymar again, having shared the pitch with him at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup and later at the 2022 World Cup, persuaded the former Liverpool star to give it another go, although the transfer is not yet official.
Now Santos dream of reaching the Copa Sudamericana final, with the São Paulo club close to the semi-finals after a 2–0 first-leg victory over Atlético Mineiro. If they get there, some of the credit will belong to their No. 10, who is now finding himself in a different kind of role.