Very receptive, the striker commented on the possibility of making his debut on Saturday, in the Campeonato Paulista: ‘it depends on Mister’
Monday (5) was busy with the official presentation of the attacker. The player, who will wear the number 9 shirt, swore his love to the club that revealed him and promised dedication to rewriting its history. “At some point this would happen, it was always in my head to return to Santos, to my home. I was raised here, since I was eight years old. It all started at home. Rafaella (Neymar’s girlfriend and sister) started talking about going back to Santos, my parents too. I always had a desire to return. I didn’t expect it to be like this. And also with President Marcelo (Teixeira), who has known me since I was little, things started to happen”, he stated.
Very receptive, Gabigol commented on the possibility of debuting on Saturday, in the Campeonato Paulista. In his conversation with journalists, however, he placed the responsibility for the lineup on the technical command of Juan Pablo Vojvoda. “It depends on the Mister”, declared the attacker. Regarding Neymar and the partnership at Vila Belmiro, the controversial center forward used a very supportive tone. “I’m ready to be able to help Neymar to be very good on and off the field. We talked when everything was ok. We are very happy to share the dressing room and the field. In the national team it was very quick and now we will be able to live close by”, he commented.
With just a few minutes at Cruzeiro during his time with the Belo Horizonte team in 2025, and relegated to reserve center forward Kaio Jorge, Gabigol was asked if coming to Santos would be a step back in his career. The answer came with a tone of nostalgia.
“If the step back is to return to the greatest team on Earth… There is no better step back than this. The amount of idol that Santos has, the fans that Santos has, this stadium here, where the King played. Practically the only team that plays with the crown up here, I don’t see it as that. I see it as a story. The story of Santos is this. It has practically always been like this, the media against Santos, and we have always turned it around. I need Santos more than the Saints of me”, he commented.
Finally, he said he was ready for the charges and stated that he will celebrate the goals in the same way he did in his Flamengo days. “I’m a player who respects all clubs. I’m not the type to take insults home, sometimes I make mistakes with that. Celebrating a goal is special. If they insult me, if they treat me in a way that I don’t think is right, I’ll celebrate, yes”
At 29 years old, the top scorer stated that he will lend his experience to the squad. “I’m here to help not only the boys, but others, and also to be helped. There’s always a movie in my head in Santos. I sit here and watch the idols, I arrive at CT, I see Robinho Jr., Bontempo. Whatever they needed from me, they know they can count on me”, he said.
Santos makes its debut in the Campeonato Paulista this Saturday, at 4pm, in Vila Belmiro. The team led by Argentine coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda will host Novorizontino in its first challenge in the state.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
