Neymar’s return to boyhood club Santos hasn’t exactly been the homecoming he, or fans, were dreaming of.

While there have been glimpses of his undeniable brilliance, the comeback has been marred by recurring injuries, red cards and a string of poor results. Santos have won just four of their 16 Série A matches this season, and the mood around the club is growing tense.

Following their latest setback – a 2-1 defeat to Internacional that kept them anchored in the relegation zone – tensions boiled over. Neymar was seen confronting a fan in the stands in a heated exchange at the final whistle.

He had already interacted with supporters during the second half, but after the game, he returned to the same spot, where a verbal clash erupted with a particularly vocal critic. Words were exchanged, fingers pointed and frustration laid bare before Neymar was pulled away by a teammate.

Santos’ latest defeat leaves them 17th in the table and deep in relegation trouble.

For Neymar, this turbulent chapter is a far cry from the triumphant return he envisioned when he signed on through 2025 – and both he and the club are running out of time to turn things around.