Sports Desk:

Santos’ president told Brazilian superstar Neymar it was “time to return to (his) people” in a video published on social media Tuesday.

Club president Marcelo Teixeira took to Instagram to deliver the message to Neymar but did not officially confirm the 32-year old’s return to the club where he first broke through in 2009.

“The time has come, Neymar. The time has come for you to return to your people. To your home, to our beloved club,” said Teixeira.

“Welcome back, Ney boy!…Come and be happy again in the sacred jersey. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms.”

Neymar’s contract with Saudi side Al Hilal was terminated by mutual consent Monday, bringing to an end an injury-plagued 18-month stint in Riyadh.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward played just seven matches for the club after joining Al Hilal in August 2023, despite a reported salary of around $104m a year.

Neymar came through the Santos academy and went on to make 225 appearances for the Brazilian Serie A side, netting 136 times.

He joined Barca in 2013, winning the Champions League two years later as part of a star-studded team also featuring Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

In 2017, Qatar-owned PSG prised him away from Barca with what is still a world-record transfer fee of 220m euros ($230m).

Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches, two ahead of fellow ex-Santos player Pele.