According to reports, Santos has initiated an operation titled ‘Stay Neymar,’ although the former Barcelona star has spent more time injured than playing since his return to Brazil.

The club has made a surprising choice to replace Pedro Caixinha, who was dismissed, by approving Neymar’s preferred candidate: Kleber Xavier, who worked as Tite’s assistant for years. He has signed a contract until December, the end of the South American season, and will be introduced today.

Since Tite, the former national team coach, decided to take a break after experiencing anxiety, Santos has hired his entire technical staff. This includes Matheus Bachi, Tite’s son, as head coach, and Fabio Mahseredjian, the fitness coach, who will join Cesar Sampaio, who was previously at the club as an interim coach. All of them worked with Neymar in the Brazilian national team between 2016 and 2022.

Vinicius Marques, an assistant coach, has also been added to this group. He has had an outstanding career in youth levels at Corinthians, a traditional club, and played a key role in the technical staff of Corinthians, who won the Copa do Brasil in 2024.

Marcelo Teixeira, Santos’ president, who proposed the idea of bringing back this star, is convinced that hiring Neymar’s preferred technical staff will help him extend his contract, which expires on June 30, for another year.

Santos hopes that its star will abandon the idea of an adventure in the U.S. or a potential return to Europe and instead prepare for the next World Cup, which will be the last of his professional career, at home alongside professionals with whom he has full synergy.

Santos is in a very precarious position upon its return to the Brazilian Serie A. After the first seven weeks, with only one win, they are second-to-last in the table with four points, in the relegation zone.