Santos President Tells Neymar It’s ‘Time To Come Home’

In a video that was made available on social media on Tuesday, Santanos’ president stated that it was “time for him to return to (his) people.”

Marcelo Teixeira, the club president, took the message to Neymar on Instagram, but he did not legally confirm the 32-year-old’s return to the club where he first broke through in 2009, which was not immediately available.

“The time has come, Neymar. You now have a chance to reclaim your country. To your home, to our beloved club”, said Teixeira.

“Welcome back, Ney boy! … Wear the sacred jersey and experience happiness once more. You will be welcomed with open arms by the Santos people.

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

After joining Al Hilal in August 2023, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player made a rumored annual salary of around $104 million. He only played seven games for the club.

Neymar made 225 starts for the Brazilian Serie A side after graduating from the Santos academy, scoring 136 goals.

He made his debut for Barcelona in 2013, and he became a member of a star-studded squad that included Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who won the Champions League two years later.

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

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

Arteta Delighted As Arsenal Win Appeal Over Lewis-Skelly Red Rard

Arsenal have successfully appealed against the red card shown to Myles Lewis-Skelly in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolves, meaning the 18-year-old escapes a three-match ban.

At Molineux in the first half, Wolves broke clear from an Arsenal corner after tripping Matt Doherty.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was shocked when the VAR did not ask the referee to review the incident.

Before Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Girona, Arteta stated in a press conference on Tuesday that “I’m obviously really happy that the decision has been made and that Myles will be available for us.”

One of the outspoken critics of the red card, former England captain Alan Shearer, referred to it as “one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time.”

The Football Association stated in a statement that a “self-empowered regulatory commission removed Myles Lewis-Skelly’s three-match suspension and upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal.”

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Lewis-Skelly, who has impressed in his breakthrough season with the Gunners ‘ first team, is now free to face Manchester City and Leicester in the Premier League, either side of the second leg of Arsenal’s League Cup semi-final against Newcastle.

Arsenal were nearly half-time a man down before Wolves’ Joao Gomes was also sent off, but they still managed to hold on to stay six points clear of Liverpool in the Premier League with a late strike.

After the match, Oliver faced threats and abuse on social media, which were investigated by police.

“We have to try hard to eradicate (abuse) from the game”, said Arteta.

“It certainly damages our sport, so let’s get it out”.

On Wednesday, Arsenal will face Girona, who has already been eliminated, to earn a direct spot in the Champions League last 16.

Third in the table, Arteta’s side are highly unlikely to miss out on a top eight spot.

Arsenal has never won the Champions League, and the last major trophy they won was in 2020, the FA Cup, won.

“We have been very close to big titles in the last few years but that’s very difficult in football”, added Arteta.

“Tomorrow we must earn our qualification”.

PSG Embrace The Pressure Ahead Of ‘Explosive’ Stuttgart UCL Clash

Luis Enrique issued a call to his team on Tuesday to accept the pressure in Wednesday’s final Champions League group match in Stuttgart.

In the event that PSG loses in Germany on Wednesday, they could fail to reach the knockout stages.

The 2015 Champions League-winning coach admitted his side, who sit 22nd in the 36-team table after losing three of their seven games so far, had struggled.

“We deserved to win, but we were not clinical enough in front of the goal,” Luis Enrique told reporters. “I think we have been superior to almost all the teams we have played.

I’m ready to compete because I’m just as calm before any Champions League game, which implies that I’m not calm at all.

” Is there pressure? Yes of course, that means we’re in the right place. “

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Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness refrained from calling PSG “one of the top five teams in Europe” when it was suggested that the French league leaders, who have lost players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar in recent years, lacked the star power of the days.

” It’s a team full of stars — an unbelievably good team, “Hoeness said.

” They’ve shown that in the (French) league, even if they may not have collected the points in the Champions League that they would have wanted.

“There’s a huge challenge for us, a big game. Tomorrow, the stadium will explode due to the city’s pumping.

Emery Urges Aston Villa To Finish The Job In Champions League

As Aston Villa prepares for their final game of the league against Celtic on Wednesday, United Emery has vowed to help the club complete the task and earn direct qualification for the Champions League last 16.

If they win and other factors are taken into account, with all 36 teams simultaneously in action, the former European champions could move up to the top eight.

That would mean the Birmingham-based club, back in Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since the 1982/83 season, would skip the two-legged play-off round next month.

Villa lost to Monaco last week, but Emery wants his side to take on the Scottish champions, who are already guaranteed a spot in the play-offs, on a “special night” at Villa Park.

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“I want to be in the top eight and we have the opportunity, which is fantastic,” the Villa manager said on Tuesday. “Last week I was a little pessimistic. With 13 points (from seven games), we are incredibly successful overall.

In order for us to win, many other teams must win tomorrow, not just us. ”

Due to Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings’ injuries, Villa are without a fit centre-back, while Fenerbahce sold Diego Carlos last week.

Mings’ injury in Sunday’s draw against West Ham raised concerns that he might have sustained a serious knee injury, but his prognosis is encouraging despite his likely fitness against Celtic.

Although it’s not a major injury, Emery said that how he feels better or worse each day will depend greatly on how much of that is determined.

We will train this afternoon, I’ll check on him, and of course, there will be a day off. ”

Bayern’s Kompany Still Hopeful Of Top-Eight Champions League Finish

Even though Bayern only has a slim chance of placing first in the Champions League top eight ahead of their most recent league game against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, Allianz Arena coach Vincent Kompany says, “anything is possible,”

In the new league phase, Bayern are currently 15th, need to beat Slovan, and need to avoid the knockout play-off round and advance to the last 16.

“We’re playing at home”, Kompany told reporters on Tuesday. “This is a special place for us and here, anything is possible…

” We’ve got no control over what happens in the other games, it’s all about our own performance.

“We won’t have an issue until the late in the game, and maybe we’ll learn that we need another goal or two, so we can take a little more risk.”

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The six-time European champions have struggled for consistency in the Champions League this season, particularly away from home, losing on the road to Aston Villa, Barcelona, and Feyenoord.

Bayern are no longer a top team, according to Thomas Mueller, who insisted Joshua Kimmich’s comments had been taken out of context.

“What you look at the table, I know what he meant. The fact that you don’t need to play for a championship team in January but rather in May is nice in football.

Alonso Says Nigeria’s Victor Boniface In Talks To Leave Leverkusen

Victor Boniface is reportedly in talks to leave the club at the moment, according to Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.

Sky Germany have reported Boniface, 24, is set for a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, for a transfer fee in excess of 50 million euros ($52 million).

Boniface signed for 20 million euros in Leverkusen 18 months ago from the Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise.

In 49 games for the club, he hasn’t played since picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty in November, where he has scored 29 goals and added 11 assists.

Before Wednesday’s Champions League game against Sparta Prague, the Nigerian striker missed training.

“We need to wait while discussions with the club take place. We’re preparing without Boni”, Alonso told reporters Tuesday.

“We will see. Although we need to wait a little longer, the rest of our squad is already fit and ready.

” It’s the last Champions League game and that’s our focus. “

Alonso stated that Leverkusen was “looking forward to signing more players during the winter window” and that he was “very pleased with the squad and our quality… and will be” at the end of the window.

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In Boniface’s absence, Patrik Schick has returned to form for Leverkusen with 13 goals in his past nine league games.

Schick said Tuesday a possible Boniface departure” doesn’t change very much… I’ve always been focused on myself and I’m not looking at anyone else.

Whether Victor is present or not, I’ll continue to go as I have.

The 29-year-old Schick, who attended Sparta Prague as a youth, expressed with a smile that he was anticipating some more personal attention from the visiting fans.

“I expect them to insult me from the stands,” I said. “It will be fun.”