Neymar admits: I came very close to playing for Fluminense at the Club World Cup

The Fluminense move was a serious possibility

After parting ways with Al Hilal in January, Neymar returned to Santos, the club where he began his career. He revealed that he held short-term talks with several clubs over the summer, one of which was Fluminense, who were participating in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Fluminense off to a solid start without Neymar

Fluminense, featuring Neymar’s former teammates Ganso and Thiago Silva, began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 0–0 draw against Borussia Dortmund. The Brazilian side now looks to build on their solid start as they face Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD in the group to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.

Loyalty to Santos earns Fluminense’s respect

Neymar featured in a total of 14 official matches for Al Hilal and Santos during the 2024–2025 season, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists. He admitted he is still in the process of regaining full fitness. After suffering a hamstring injury in April and May, he was only able to make two appearances during that period.

Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt expressed his understanding of Neymar’s decision. Speaking to ESPN, Bittencourt said,

“Neymar wanted to play with us. But he said he wanted to help Santos through their current situation and fully recover on a personal level. That was a very noble and respectable stance.”

Speaking on Flow Podcast, Neymar said,

“We had serious talks with Fluminense. It was really close. But I wanted to keep working and return to peak physical condition. I feel good now, but I want to return to the pitch at one hundred per cent.”