Neymar Jr sends message to Barcelona on the club's 125th anniversary
Al-Hilal star Neymar Jr. has sent a message to Spanish giants Barcelona on the event of the club's 125th anniversary of its formation. The Brazil international was once on the books of the Catalan side after he first moved to Europe.
The forward began turning heads as a teenager in Brazil in the colors of Santos, attracting interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. La Blaugrana signed him in 2013, and he went on to represent the club until 2017 before moving to France with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Barca have continued to be linked with the 32-year-old in the years since he left the club, sparking the possibility of a return to the Spanish side in the future. Neymar took to Instagram to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary, sending a simple message.
"👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 125 years of history!!!! @fcbarcelona"
Neymar has not enjoyed the best time in his career since leaving for PSG for a world-record fee of €222 million in 2017. While at the Spanish club, he formed one of Europe's deadliest-ever attacking trios, MSN, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Brazil's all-time record goalscorer with 79 goals, Neymar played 186 games in his time for the Spanish club, scoring 105 goals and providing 76 assists. He won the treble in 2015, also winning the league title in the following season and the Copa del Rey in each of the next two.
He is presently on the books of Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal, where injuries have severely limited his participation since signing for €90 million in 2023. The forward is presently in Barcelona as he recuperates following a hamstring injury.
Former Barcelona star Neymar set to retrace steps following decade-long European sojourn - Reports
The former Barcelona forward is reportedly set to choose to return to boyhood club Santos at the end of his contract with Al-Hilal. He has chosen to go back to Brazil and continue his career, as per a report from journalist Cesar Luis Merlo.
Neymar was a boy wonder at Santos, making his senior international debut for Brazil aged just 18 and attracting interest from all over Europe. When he left for Spain in 2013, he had already played 225 games for the Brazilian club, scoring 136 goals for the club.
With his contract in Saudi set to expire in 2025, the talented forward is reportedly not keen on remaining in the oil-rich country and favors a move back home. He will join the likes of Marcelo, Thiago Silva, and a host of other Brazilian stars in returning to play in Brazil.