For months, Neymar Jr. has been linked with a reunion with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, but the Herons received bad news on Tuesday.
Neymar, 33, was ending his contract with Brazil’s Santos in December 2025, but through an official statement, the club announced the extension of his contract until the end of the 2026 season.
“The Prince of Vila Belmiro stays home until 2026! Neymar Jr. renews his contract with Santos FC until the end of the season to continue writing his football history with the Sacred Mantle,” the club announced on its official website.
“I’m very happy as president and Santos fan,” said Marcelo Teixeira, president of Santos. “Having Neymar, our Prince, with us until the end of the year shows that our project to rebuild the Club and our football is going strong, respecting processes and consolidating credibility. We are on the right track.”
Last October, Sport reported that the former Paris Saint-Germain star no longer had interest from European clubs, and that Inter Miami “would love” to sign him. In the end, it seems there will be no reunion with Messi.
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What’s Next for Inter Miami?
Inter Miami is already working on what will be the 2026 season, in which it will no longer have big names like Jordi Alba or Sergio Busquets.
However, the Herons will continue to build around the undisputed leader of its project, Messi. The club’s priority is to surround the Argentine superstar with the best available talent in the transfer market.
The Argentine extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, so the Barcelona legend will remain a key piece both on the sporting side and in promotion for Miami Freedom Park, the club’s new stadium, which is set to open in 2026.
That said, the club’s front office is focused on the sporting side. It aims to provide head coach Javier Mascherano with a roster capable of contending for another MLS Cup and, for the first time, conquering the Concacaf Champions Cup.