Why Neymar could have just three games left in a Santos shirt after casting his future into doubt

Neymar could have only three games left in a Santos shirt as the Brazil icon is yet to commit to a new deal with the club.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Neymar could leave Santos next month
• Featured in Santos' defeat at CRB
• Current contract expires after June

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazil international, who is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, returned to his homeland in January after being released from his lucrative contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. He became a free agent after struggling through injury issues in the Middle East.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neymar's reunion with his boyhood club has not been a grand success, as more fitness problems limit his game time. The player has now returned to action and came on as a 66th-minute substitute in the team's Copa do Brasil third-round clash against CRB as Santos crashed out of the competition after losing on penalties.

• WHAT NEYMAR SAID

  After the game, Amazon Prime had asked Neymar about his future at the Brazilian club, to which he replied: "I don't know yet (if I'm going to renew)."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  If the 33-year-old does not extend his current deal, which is valid until the end of June, the winger will have only three matches to play for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A against Vitoria on May 25, Botafogo on June 1 and Fortaleza on June 12, respectively. A return to Europe has been speculated on for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is keen to captain Brazil at the 2026 World Cup in North America.