Neymar has reportedly arrived by a custom helicopter at the first training session of his boyhood club Santos.
The news emerged only days after the Brazilian officially made an emotional return to the Serie B club with a six-month contract – which can be extended for another year – aiming to return to his top form for the 2026 World Cup.
It was confirmed last week that Neymar had his £130-million-per-year contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal terminated via a mutual agreement – scoring only one goal in one-and-a-half injury-hit seasons.
Now, according to Brazilian outlet Globo, Neymar is commuting to his Santos training sessions via a custom helicopter, due to the fact that the superstar has not bought a property in the city of his new club yet.
He is reportedly expected to purchase a new mansion in Morro de Santa Terezinha, a prestigious area in Santos.
At the moment, Neymar travels around 500km from his residence in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro – where he lives with his family members, wife Bruna Biancardi and their daughter.
Neymar has reportedly commuted by a custom helicopter to arrive at his first training session of Santos
His return was announced last week after one-and-a-half years spent in Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal
It is also understood that the Brazilian has another property in the region, a mansion valued at £1.2m with includes a safari with more than 500 animals.
According to the Brazilian press, a one-hour trip to the training session would cost the player up to £480, not including the crew’s pay and maintenance expenses.
His custom helicopter was built in 2019 and is capable of flying in bad weather, with capacity for two pilots, eight passengers, luggage, and two engines.
Neymar has agreed to take a significant pay cut to return to Brazil as his current contract includes a base salary of approximately £135,507 (R$1m) per month and 90 per cent of his image rights.
The new deal structure is similar to his deal at Santos between 2010 and 2013, when the winger’s salary was £40,683, but he gained £429,147 monthly.
Neymar, aged 17, got through Santos’ first team in 2009 and was a regular starter until the summer of 2013, when he agreed to join FC Barcelona.
Overall, he has scored 134 goals in 220 games for his boyhood club.
However, the Brazilian showed his best football in the Blaugrana shirt, leaving Spain as the 17th goal scorer in the club’s history with 105 goals.
The Brazilian superstar previously spent four years playing for Santos first-team before moving to FC Barcelona in 2013
Showcasing his journey back to Brazil, Neymar shared several Instagram stories, captioning one: ‘After 12 years we are back brother.’
Furthermore, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira welcomed the Brazilian superstar with an emotional video on social media last week.
He said: ‘It is the time (to come back), Neymar. It is time for you to come back to your people. To our home, to the club in our hearts.
‘Welcome, our boy Ney! A boy of Vila (Belmiro, Santos’ stadium). Come back to be happy again with the white and black shirt. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms.
