He Santos The 2026 season begins with significant changes to its squad and key movements in the transfer market. The club has closed the Neymar renewal until the end of 2026, which guarantees the continuity of the star throughout the season and provides greater institutional stability in Vila Belmiro. At the same time, a negotiation for another star is progressing: Gabigolfront of Cruiseis close to joining the São Paulo team on loan, an operation that depends mainly on the will of the player himself.
The recent contractual extension of Ney32 years old, positions the club in a stronger situation in the face of the competitive challenges of 2026, such as the Copa Sudamericana. Although at first it was expected that the playmaker would remain only six more months, the agreement reached extends his relationship until the end of the season. The negotiation process, extended over several weeks, culminated with the permanence of the most prominent figure on the team, which provides tranquility and visibility to the team’s sports project. Santos.
Regarding the possible arrival of Gabriel Barbosa29 years old, the conversations with the Cruise have progressed in the last days of 2025. The Fish seeks to close its incorporation through a loan, and the result of the management depends on the attacker’s willingness to join the project.
On the other hand, the midfielder Felipe LoyolaChilean international, is among the club’s reinforcement targets. Santos has submitted an offer equal to or greater than 30 million reais (around 5.5 million dollars) to Independentbut the lack of financial guarantees, according to the Argentine club’s expectations, keeps negotiations stalled and without concrete progress for the moment.
The Argentine coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda has the chance to put together a luxury forward with the former Barcelona and the former Flamengo scorer, who knew how to score a double against River Plate in the final of the 2019 Copa Libertadores. The peculiarity is that they are brothers-in-law, given the sentimental link (with back and forth) between the center attacker and Rafaella SantosNey’s sister.
The former Blaugrana has played only 28 games for Peixe this year, in which he scored 11 goals and provided four assists. Injuries took a toll on his chances. In fact, he had to undergo surgery on his left knee due to a meniscus problem. Ney played the last days of the Brasileirao with pain on his back, but he managed to help his squad avoid relegation and qualify for the next Sudamericana.
Although it was rumored that he could return to Europe or that he could end up in the MLS to play alongside Messi at Inter Miami, Neymar chose to remain in Santos to show Carlo Ancelotti that he is in a position to lead Brazil in the ecumenical event to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. La Verdeamarela will share Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
Gabigol, meanwhile, seeks to return to being, after being chosen as the worst reinforcement of the Brasileirao in 2025. Despite starting his time at Cruzeiro with a contract that extends until 2028 and after an encouraging debut in which he scored a hat-trick against Itabirito on January 30, the striker failed to meet high expectations. His performance included 13 goals and four assists in 49 games, totaling 2,282 minutes on the field, but the irregularity in his performance and the emergence of Kaio Jorge as the team’s top scorer ended up relegating the former Fla to the substitute bench.
