The 32-year-old has parted ways by mutual consent with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal after a disappointing spell at the club for Brazil's all-time leading goal-scorer.
Having sustained a knee injury playing for in Brazil in October 2023 he played seven matches and scored once.
A video published by Al-Hilal on Tuesday evening shows Neymar giving a farewell speech.
"Today I am very happy to be able to go, return home. To my country," Neymar told his former teammates, without mentioning Santos.
"It was a pleasure for me to play for this club. It was a short time, things were not as I expected. I could not help you on the pitch as I wanted."
In a social media post Neymar again thank Al-Hilal and the club's fans.
"To everyone at Al-Hilal, to the fans, Thank you," he said on X.
"I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together.
"To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life."
To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, Thank you !!— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together ..To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiencesI now know the real Saudi and have friends for lifeI always… pic.twitter.com/NgeoUjZk1DJanuary 28, 2025
Also on social media, Teixeira said it was time for Neymar to return.
"It is time for you to come back to your people. To our home, to the club in our hearts," he said.
"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."
Neymar won six titles with boyhood club Santos, including a Copa Libertadores trophy in 2011, before moving to Barcelona in 2013.
In August 2017 he moved to Paris St Germain for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($A370m).
Neymar had joined Al-Hilal from PSG for a reported fee of about 90 million euros ($A150m) in August 2023.
The Brazilian's contract had been due to expire after this year's FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played between June 15 and July 13 in the United States.
with AP
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