Brazilian superstar Neymar is under threat of having his contract not extended by his current club, Santos, due to his persistent physical condition and the star's high salary.
The 33-year-old striker has been sidelined by injury throughout this year. Despite his good relationship with the club, Santos management has chosen to evaluate the situation before deciding on a contract extension. Neymar's current contract runs until December 2025.
According to an ESPN report cited on Friday, the club's board is in no rush to finalize negotiations due to doubts about Neymar's physical condition and the financial burden posed by his high wages.
New talks will likely resume after an internal evaluation is completed.
Neymar's return to Santos in January this year was described as the "perfect homecoming story" after leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
However, his comeback season was plagued by injuries. He only appeared in 21 matches, scoring six goals and three assists. A right thigh muscle injury he's been suffering since September 19th has kept him sidelined until now.
However, the club insists there is no conflict between Santos and Neymar. They simply want the player to recover to full fitness before discussing a new long-term contract.
