O Fluminense could be Neymar’s destination in 2026. According to journalist Rodrigo Dias, from the Ligados no Flu channel, the Santos attacking midfielder is on Tricolor das Laranjeiras’ radar and could wear the club’s shirt next season. The information rekindles a negotiation that almost came to fruition in 2025, when the player was even considered to compete in the Club World Cup for Fluminense.
– I spoke to my friend Caíque Pereira, from the Leiteira do Castilho channel. He has the information that Neymar should be a Fluminense player next year, whether Santos falls or not. In the middle of the year, Neymar had that proposal (to play in the Club World Cup for Fluminense), which for some reason didn’t work out, but he remains on Fluminense’s radar and should, yes, be a player for the club next season – said Rodrigo Dias.
In addition to the sporting possibility, the Thiago Silva factor also weighs in favor of the deal. The defender, Fluminense idol and former teammate of Neymar in the Seleção and at Paris Saint-Germain, is seen as one of the main enthusiasts of the signing. The relationship between the two is long-standing and marked by friendship and mutual respect.
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Public support from Thiago Silva
Speculation about Neymar’s possible move to Fluminense gained even more strength after a gesture of support from Thiago Silva himself on social media. Amidst the criticism that Santos’ number 10 received after the defeat to Flamengo, last Sunday (09/11), the defender posted a photo alongside his friend with the message: “I love you”.
The attitude came at a turbulent time. Neymar was criticized for arguing with teammates and the coaching staff during the game at Maracanã, in addition to leaving the field angry when he was substituted. Internally, Santos managers and athletes did not approve of the stance.
The friendship between Thiago Silva and Neymar goes back a long way. The two shared the Brazilian team’s dressing room in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and also at PSG, between 2017 and 2020. In 2014, both were left out of the traumatic semi-final against Germany – Thiago due to suspension and Neymar due to injury. Since then, they have been in constant contact.
The almost success for the Club World Cup
Fluminense’s interest in Neymar is not recent. The player himself revealed, in an interview with Flow Podcast, that he negotiated to compete in the 2025 Club World Cup for Flu, but preferred to remain at Santos at that time.
– I spoke to some clubs about the World Cup. Fluminense was one of those that came closest, but I preferred to take advantage of this break in the Brasileirão to train more and improve my physical shape – said Neymar, during a charity event in Vila Belmiro, in June.
At the time, the president of Fluminense, Mário Bittencourt, confirmed the attempt. According to him, Neymar demonstrated his desire to defend the Rio club, but chose to focus on his recovery and Santos’ fight against relegation.
– Neymar was very dignified with us. He said he really wanted to, but he was focused on helping Santos. He spoke to me personally, explained the reasons and left the doors open. He is a wonderful player, and I hope he returns to the national team as soon as possible – the Tricolor president declared to ESPN.
Mário Bittencourt also revealed behind-the-scenes details.
– When I brought Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Fred… You don’t send a paper proposal. You talk, you understand the player’s desires. I spoke to Renato Gaúcho (Fluminense coach during the period), who is a friend of Neymar, he thought it was great and spoke to the player. Neymar’s father was very polite, he didn’t close the doors, he just said that the moment was not ideal. The idea was to have him at the World Cup – the manager told the Setor Sul podcast.
Neymar’s contractual situation and uncertain future at Santos
Neymar’s contract with Santos runs until December 2025, but the star’s stay depends directly on the club’s situation in the Brazilian Championship. In case of relegation, the tendency is for him not to renew.
According to the website UOL, the return of number 10 cost Santos around R$21 million per month during the initial five-month agreement. The total already paid until June was R$105 million, around 25% of the annual budget initially planned for the club. The salary after renewal is not known.
When calculating salaries for the first five months, the fixed salary in the portfolio was R$4.14 million per month, while the majority of the remuneration came from marketing and image use agreements. Neymar received 75% of the revenue from new Santos sponsors, and the club kept 25%. Since his return, Peixe has increased sponsorship revenue by approximately R$66 million, of which R$49.5 million went to NR Sports, the company that manages the player’s career.
With the future uncertain, other clubs are also observing the situation. Inter Miami, from the United States, is monitoring the striker, but should only move forward if Lionel Messi enters the deal. In Italy, Inter Milan and Napoli also showed interest in the January window, but there is still no official offer.
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