Real Madrid’s Rodrygo hails ‘idol’ Neymar move to Santos

Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is delighted after his idol Neymar’s move to Santos has been confirmed. The forward wants to witness Neymar’s unveiling with his boyhood club.

Santos is yet to make any official confirmation regarding the move but club president Marcelo Texeira has revealed that Neymar will rejoin the club with the Brazil forward having already terminated his contract with Al Hilal.

Neymar hardly played for the Saudi Pro League club because of injury woes. In the previous season, Neymar suffered a torn ACL and then suffered a hamstring injury in November.

Rodrygo told TNT Brasil: “I’m very happy, I’m just waiting for Santos to announce it. I still don’t believe it, is it true? I think it’s a very special day for those who are Santos fans.”

Neymar won six titles with Santos in five seasons he played for the club before moving to Barcelona in 2013.

“If I could go to Brazil for his [Neymar’s] presentation and come back, I would,” Rodrygo said. “If I had time [laughs].

“I wish him lots of luck. Everyone knows he’s my idol.”

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Raphina is also looking forward to Neymar joining Santos.

“It wasn’t just me but the whole of Brazil that was anxious regarding Neymar’s return to Santos,” Barcelona’s Raphinha said. “Not only for what he represents to the club, what he did in his first spell at Santos.”

“I’m very happy that he is going to return and compete again,” Raphinha said of Neymar. “He needs to be physically well and to return to play. It’s good for him and for all of us.”

Neymar is Brazil’s all-time goal-scorer with 79 goals.