Santos Wiretap

Neymar has withdrawn from discussions with FC Cincinnati after growing frustrated with the pace of a potential move, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic. Cincinnati never submitted a formal offer to the Brazilian star.

Neymar had been willing to join Cincinnati if the financial terms could be agreed upon. Sporting director Chris Albright and president Jeff Berding traveled to Brazil in April to meet with Neymar and his father.

Despite the breakdown with Cincinnati, Neymar remains open to joining another MLS club if the right situation presents itself, sources said.

The 34-year-old is currently contracted with his boyhood club Santos through the end of the year, recording six goals and four assists across 15 appearances this season. He made his first World Cup appearance for Brazil this summer after returning from injury, featuring in a 3-0 group-stage victory over Scotland. Brazil topped Group C with two wins and a draw.

MLS clubs have pursued global stars aggressively in recent years, fueled by the commercial success of Lionel Messi and an approaching media rights negotiation. The league's current deal with Apple expires after the 2028-29 season. Recent arrivals include Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris at LAFC, Thomas Muller at Vancouver and Antoine Griezmann at Orlando City. Inter Miami is set to sign Casemiro, while the Chicago Fire are pursuing Robert Lewandowski.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, has won one Champions League title, two La Liga titles and five Ligue 1 titles across stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal.

Negotiations between FC Cincinnati and representatives for Neymar continue to advance, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic, though significant roster and financial obstacles remain before any summer transfer could be completed.

Neymar, 34, has started and played the full 90 minutes in each of his last five Santos appearances, using the stretch to demonstrate his fitness ahead of a potential Brazil World Cup squad selection under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The forward declined to confirm or deny the Cincinnati interest when asked directly by Brazilian media.

"I honestly don't know," Neymar said when questioned about FC Cincinnati and a possible summer departure.

Neymar has posted four goals and three assists across 854 minutes in all competitions this season, following 11 goals and four assists in just over 2,000 minutes last year. His Santos contract expires next winter.

A summer move would require Cincinnati to clear roster space by moving one of its three designated players, Evander, Kevin Denkey or Miles Robinson, all of whom are under contract and cannot have their salaries bought down below the designated player threshold.

Denkey has drawn the most concrete outside interest. European clubs pursued the striker this past winter, but Cincinnati would only engage in discussions if offers cleared $20 million, sources told The Athletic. Real Betis were among the clubs that made contact. Denkey arrived in Cincinnati ahead of the 2025 MLS season for a club-record $16.1 million fee.

Any deal structured for next winter, when Neymar's Santos contract expires naturally, would eliminate the roster complication entirely.

Neymar has stated his intention to fulfill his Santos contract through the end of 2026, cooling speculation over a potential move to MLS following reported interest from FC Cincinnati.

ESPN sources confirmed earlier this month that Cincinnati had initiated contact with Neymar's representatives to explore bringing the Brazilian forward to the United States this summer.

The 34-year-old addressed the reports directly.

"I honestly don't know [regarding the possibility to leave in the next transfer window]," Neymar said. "I have a contract with Santos until the end of the year and I intend to see it through."

A knee injury has restricted the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star to just eight appearances in 2026, during which he has recorded four goals and three assists for his boyhood club.

Neymar returned from injury Tuesday, scoring in a 1-1 home draw with Deportivo Recoleta, a result greeted with boos from the Santos crowd. The match ended with a confrontation between Neymar and a fan as the team left the field.

The forward responded on Instagram afterward.

"To lose, draw or win is part of football!" Neymar wrote. "We are going to continue working to improve...It's the only thing we can do."

Neymar remains in consideration for Brazil's World Cup squad, according to national team manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Neymar's prospects of playing at the 2026 World Cup are fading after Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti left the Santos forward out of his squad for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States. The March 26 and March 31 matches will be the final games before Ancelotti names his World Cup roster on May 18.

Ancelotti was direct about the reason for the omission.

"Neymar is not at 100 percent and therefore he is not on the list," Ancelotti said Monday. "If he can be at 100 percent physically, he can be there. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showcasing his qualities and maintaining good physical condition."

Neymar, 34, told media in Sao Paulo he was "upset and sad" after learning of the decision but remained determined to push for inclusion in the final squad. Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals has not appeared for the national team since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his left knee in October 2023. He played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians on Sunday, with two of Ancelotti's assistants in attendance, but did not stand out after being rested in midfield the week prior when Ancelotti himself was watching.

"My focus remains, day after day, training after training, match after match," Neymar said. "There's still the final squad."

Endrick, who has scored six goals in 12 appearances since joining Lyon from Real Madrid in January, earned his first call-up under Ancelotti. Brentford forward Igor Thiago received his first Brazil selection. Raphinha and Vinicius Junior lead the attack, with Lucas Paqueta notably absent despite returning to Flamengo from West Ham in January.

Ancelotti also confirmed Monday that the Brazilian federation intends to extend his contract through the 2030 World Cup.

"When a couple wants to carry on I think there's no problem," Ancelotti said. "Either before or after the next World Cup we will make this extension official."

Brazil open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.

Brazil all-time leading scorer Neymar has raised the possibility of retiring at the end of 2026, citing ongoing injury concerns while expressing hope of representing his country at this summer's World Cup.

"It may be that when December comes, I'll want to retire," Neymar told Brazilian online channel Caze. "I'm living year to year now."

The 34-year-old rejoined boyhood club Santos from Saudi side Al-Hilal in January 2025, extending his contract through the end of 2026. However, knee surgery in late December delayed his return to action until last week, further compressing an already difficult timeline.

Neymar acknowledged that earning a place in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad presents a significant obstacle. He last appeared for the national team in October 2023.

"This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it's a World Cup year, and for me too," he said.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward holds Brazil's all-time scoring record with 79 international goals, surpassing the legendary Pele by two. His $200m transfer to PSG in 2017 remains the highest fee ever paid for a footballer.

Persistent injuries have severely limited his effectiveness in recent seasons, casting doubt over whether the forward can return to form in time to influence either Santos's campaign or Brazil's World Cup preparations.

Neymar is looking to terminate his contract with Al Hilal and return to Santos instead of a move to MLS. Neymar had held preliminary talks with three MLS clubs including the Chicago Fire.

Neymar has said in the past he would like to play in the MLS one day, but never stated when.

Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus recently said that Neymar "can no longer play at the level we are used to" and that he wouldn't be registered for the second half of the season. 

Pele has passed away at the age of 82 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pele had been treated for colon cancer since 2021 and had been hospitalized with multiple ailments over the last month.

Pele won three World Cup tournaments with Brazil and 10 league titles with Santos, his club team, as well as the 1977 North American Soccer League championship with the New York Cosmos. Pele came out of retirement at the age of 34 to spend three seasons with the Cosmos.

Pele helped create and promote what he later called “o jogo bonito” — the beautiful game — a style that valued clever ball control, inventive pinpoint passing and a voracious appetite for attacking.

Jorge Sampaoli has agreed to take over as manager of Santos.

Sampaoli was rumored for the same position at Atlanta United, but ultimately chose the Brazilian club. The 58-year-old is coming off a disastrous World Cup campaign as the manager of Argentina. 

He's previously coached in Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Spain. Santos represents his first time managing in Brazil. 

Real Madrid has signed Rodrygo Goes from Santos for €45 million ($52 million).

Rodrygo will complete his move to Spain in 2019.

Rodrygo will join his fellow teenager Vinícius Júnior, who signed for the triple European champions last summer, in Madrid.

Liverpool, Monaco, Schalke, Napoli and Zenit St Petersburg are interested in signing Thiago Maia of Santos.

Zenit are the only club to have made an offer so far, according to the sources, but their €18 million bid was rejected.

Maia is a 19-year-old midfielder.