Neymar was set to be welcomed back to his boyhood club on Friday by thousands of Santos fans and a concert in the home stadium beneath an electronic sign saying, “The prince is back.” Neymar's private jet landed in the Sao Paulo state countryside from Saudi Arabia in the morning but he requested a few hours of rest before being flown into Santos by helicopter.

Santos president Marcelo Teixeira is confident Neymar will remain at the club at least until the 2026 World Cup.

Neymar Jr. arrived at Santos FC just a few days ago, but he is already prepared to make his debut with the team. Head coach Pedro Caixinha has revealed the date on which the Brazilian forward is expected to play his first match.