Neymar Jr Club Career at Santos Youth
Neymar Jr began playing football at an early age Santos FC, who offered him a contract in 2003, where Neymar inducted into their youth academy, which has, in the past, produced Brazilian internationals like Phil Coutinho, Clodoaldo, Diego, etc. And, Neymar Jr also joined the likes of Pepe, Pelé, and Robinho in starting his career at Peixe (the club’s nickname). While in the youth academy, Neymar Jr met Paulo Henrique Ganso, they both became good friends in the process. Neymar Jr has one sister that did not play football. Aged 14, Neymar Jr travelled to Spain to join the Real Madrid youth team at the time when Real Madrid had stars like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, and Robinho.
In 2009 season
Neymar Jr made his professional debut on 7TH March 2009, despite only being 17 years old of age. Neymar Jr was brought on for the last 30 minutes in the game, in a 2–1 Comfort win against Oeste. The following week Neymar scored his first goal for Santos against Mogi Mirim. One month later, on 11TH April, Neymar Jr scored the decisive Match Win goal in a 2–1 win against Palmeiras Football Cup in the 2009 Campeonato Paulista semifinal first leg. In the final match, however, Santos suffered a 4–2 aggregate defeat to the Corinthians. Also, In his first season, Neymar racked up to 14 goals in 48 games.
In 2010 season
Neymar Jr continued his ascendancy in 2010, and, on 15 April 2010, Neymar Jr scored five goals for Santos Football club in an 8–1 rout of Guarani Football club in the qualifying stages of the Brazilian football cup. Following in the 2010 Campeonato Paulista in which Neymar Jr scored 14 goals in 19 games, the club was crown as champions after a 5–5 aggregate win over Santo André in the finals. Neymar Jr was subsequently got the award for the best player in the competition. Neymar’s Best performances for Santos have drawn comparisons to other Brazilians, including Robinho and Brazilian Football legend Pelé.
Santos FC rejected a £12 million bid in 2010 for him from English Premier League team West Ham United FC. And later an offer from another English Premier League football club Chelsea, and he reported to be in the region of £20 million. Despite Santos’s unwillingness to sell and Neymar Jr himself,
“I am focused only on Santos”
Neymar Jr agent, Wagner Ribeiro, indicated that Neymar Jr’s career was elsewhere. Stating that Neymar wants to become the best footballer in the world. The chances of him to do that while playing in Brazil are zero. Although one year later, Neymar Jr admitted that. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, that Neymar is happy with Chelsea’s interest in him as it was a dream. While also stated that at the time, it had been the right decision to stay in Brazil.
By the way,
Despite C first two seasons being highly successful. And, Neymar ended the 2010 season with an impressive 42 goals from 60 games. that’s by identifying the problems. Namely Neymar Jr apparent taste for diving when tackled, rather than attempting to continue Neymar’s run and the attitude. The later came to the forefront during a match with Goianiense FC, on 15 September 2010, when the Santos’ FC manager, Dorival Júnior, appointed another football player to take the penalty awarded for a foul on Neymar.
Dorival Júnior’s decision based on the fact that Neymar Jr had missed a crucial penalty during the Copa would do Brasil’s final of that Year, even if Santos FC went on to win. Reacting to this, Neymar Jr turned his back on his manager. But the board sided with the player and decided to sack the Team manager. Despite Neymar Jr apologies over the incident, some doubts remain about Neymar’s attitude. In December 2010, aged just 18, Neymar Jr became third for the 2010 South American Football player of the Year, behind Andrés D’Alessandro and Juan Sebastián Verón.
In 2011 Season
Neymar Jr scored six goals during Santos FC run to the Copa Libertadores Finals 2011, by tying him for third top goalscorer Place, including the clinching purpose of Santos’ FC 4–3 goals AGGREGATE win against the Cerro Porteño in the semifinals of Copa Libertadores. In the two-legged final, Santos FC faced Uruguayan side Peñarol FC and drew the first leg of that match 0–0 in Montevideo. At Santos’ FC home in the second leg, Neymar Jr opened the scoring in the 46th minute of that match as Santos FC held on for a 2–1 Comfortable win, and Neymar Jr won Man of the Match award. The success brought Santos FC their first Copa Libertadores triumph since 1963 when Brazilian Football legend Pelé was playing for the club.
In September 2011, Santos FC president Luis Ribeiro threatened to report Real Madrid in Spain that they had attempted to sign Neymar Jr to a pre-contract agreement and denied that such a deal took place. On 9 November 2011, Neymar Jr and Santos FC agreed to a contract that they would see the player who stays with the club until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The deal reportedly increased Neymar Jr’s wages by 50%, to the levels that top European clubs would be paying him.
And,
On 14 December 2011, Neymar Jr scored the opening goal, and they defeated Kashiwa Reysol 3–1 in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup. On 18 December 2011, he failed to score against Barcelona FC in the final. And where the Santos FC was defeated 4–0, finishing as runners up in that competition. Neymar won the FIFA Puskás Award 2011 for scoring a sensational solo goal in the Brasileirão Série A against Flamengo FC, in a 5–4 Heartbreaking loss. On 31 December 2011, Neymar Jr won the South American Footballer of the Year 2011 award for the first time in Neymar Jr career, by a record margin, following in the footsteps of Maradona, Romário, Pelé, and Zico.
In 2012 Season
On 5 February 2012, when Neymar turned 20 years old, and Neymar Jr scored his hundred goals as a professional footballer against Palmeiras FC in the Campeonato Paulista. On 25 February 2012, Neymar Jr scored two goals. One is in 25-yards, and he assisted with two goals, to help Santos FC side to a 6–1 Comfortable win over Ponte Preta FC. And, 7 March 2012, Neymar Jr scored a hat-trick as the Santos FC saw off Brazilian rivals Internacional 3–1 Copa Libertadores Group stages. On 29 March, Neymar Jr scored a brace against Guaratinguetá in a 5–0 Superb victory.
In the fixture against São Paulo FC on 29 April 2012, Neymar Jr Netted a hat-trick with the match ending 3–1. After that, Neymar Jr scored twice in the 1st and 2nd legs in the 2012 Campeonato Paulista Finals against Guarani FC, which ended 7–2 on Super aggregate. Neymar Jr finished the 2012 Campeonato Paulista with 20 goals and voted as the Best Player and Best Forward, and Santos FC crowned as champions. Neymar Jr became the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores with eight goals. After Santos FC were beaten over two legs champions SC Corinthians in the semifinal match.
Also,
On 25 August 2012, Neymar Jr scored a brace in the 2–1 away win at Palmeiras FC. On 3 November 2012, in the Brasileirão Série A away fixture at Cruzeiro, Neymar Jr netted a hat-trick and assisted Felipe Anderson’s goal, to help his side to a 4–0 comfortable win. Neymar Jr finished off the 2012 season in brilliant style, first setting-up the Victor Andrade’s equaliser, then scored twice in the same match, to give Santos FC 3–1 home win over Palmeiras FC on 1 December 2012.
Mr Neymar Jr voted as the Best player of the 2012 Recopa Sudamericana, Neymar Jr scored again to win the title 2–0 on the aggregate as Neymar Jr finished the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2012 with 14 goals and voted as the best forward. Neymar Jr finished the 2012 season, awarded the Golden Ball, Arthur Friedenreich Award, and Armando Nogueira Trophy. Also, Neymar Jr was one of three finalists in the 2012 FIFA Puskás Award, and he finished runners-up behind Miroslav Stoch. Neymar Jr won the South American Footballer of the Year 2012, by retaining his award and winning it ahead of the likes of Football legend Ronaldinho. Reports in 2011 that Santos FC reached an agreement with Barcelona FC to sign him at a later stage. However, Neymar Jr rejected this in an interview, saying that “he has no agreement with FC Barcelona or Any other clubs else.”
In 2013 season
Neymar Jr started by scoring a Brace in the first match of the 2013 Campeonato Paulista, that match ended up as 3–1 win over São Bernardo FC by giving the victory to Santos FC on 19 January 2013. After four days, on 23 January 2013, Neymar Jr scored again against the Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas in a 3–0 Comfortable win. On 3 February 2013, in the fixture of Paulista against São Paulo FC, where Santos took a 3–1 win, with Neymar Jr scoring and making two assists. On 18 March 2013, Neymar Jr told that “he has a dream to play in Europe, to big clubs like Real Madrid CF, Barcelona FC & Chelsea FC.” But he said on to say: “There is no point in speculating when I will leave Santos. I will leave when I want to.”
Neymar Junior scored all four goals, had another disallowed and hit the post as Santos FC beat União Barbarense FC 4–0 in the Paulista on 13 April. On 25 April 2013, Neymar’s agent and father revealed that Neymar Jr intended to leave. And he will play in Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ahead of Neymar’s last match for Santos FC, on 26 May against Flamengo, Neymar Jr was in tears during the Brazil national anthem.
Neymar At Barcelona
On 24 May 2013, Santos FC announced that they had received two offers for Neymar Jr. The following day, Neymar Jr announced he would sign with the FC Barcelona on 27 May 2013 and join the team after playing the Confederations Cup in 2013. Neither Neymar Jr not the clubs released details on the transfer fee or personal terms. And except to say Neymar Jr signed a five-year deal with FC Barcelona.
On 3 June 2013, Neymar Jr was unveiled by FC Barcelona after passing medical tests. And signing a contract that would keep Neymar at the club through June 2018. Neymar Jr was presented at the Nou Camp in front of 56,500 fans a record turnout by a Brazilian player. Barcelona Club vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Neymar’s transfer fee was €87.2 million, and his release clause set at €190 million. FC Barcelona’s doctor suggested he might need to gain weight to be able to cope physically in Spanish football.
2013–14 at Barcelona
On 30 July 2013, FC Barcelona drew 2–2 against Lechia Gdańsk in a friendly preseason; this was Neymar Jr’s unofficial debut when he came on as a substitute Player. Neymar Jr scored his first goal for FC Barcelona in a 7–1 win on 7 August against a Thailand XI.
Neymar Jr made his competitive debut for FC Barcelona during the opening game of the 2013–14 La Liga season as a 63rd-minute substitute Player. In that match, FC Barcelona comfortably won the game 7–0 against Levante UD. On 21 August, Neymar scored his first competitive goal for FC Barcelona in the first leg of the 2013 Spanish Super Cup against Atlético Madrid FC. Neymar Jr made his UEFA Champions League debut on 18 September, assisting to Gerard Piqué’s goal to help FC Barcelona to beat AFC Ajax 4–0 in a comfortable win in their opening match of the 2013–14 tournament.
On 24 September, Neymar Jr scored his first goal in La Liga in FC Barcelona’s 4–1 defeat of Real Sociedad at home (Camp Nou). Neymar Jr made his first El Clásico appearance on 26 October. And Neymar scored the opening goal and assisted Alexis Sánchez winning goal as FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid CF 2–1 at Camp Nou. Neymar recorded his first hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Celtic FC in Barça’s final Group H match On 11 December.
After all the seasons at Santos FC & FC Barcelona Neymar Jr Decided to move for PSG(Paris Saint-Germain). For a world recording transfer of €222 million.
