"Only Santos can give me the love that I need to prepare for the challenges I have in the next few years. All of you, no matter who you support, know well what I am talking about,” Neymar said on his social media channels. “I hope you all follow me in this new phase of my life.”

Neymar struggled through physical injuries for most of his time in the Middle East, with a previous ACL rupture that kept him sidelined for a year.

Neymar has reached an agreement to rejoin boyhood club Santos on a six-month contract after leaving Al Hilal. It was announced on January 27 that the 32-year-old had agreed to a mutual termination of his contract with the Saudi Pro League side.