Neymar asks Santos to retire No.11 until he returns

Santos idol Neymar has asked that the team's number 11 shirt not be worn by any player until his eventual return to the Brazilian club, club president Marcelo Teixeira announced on Monday.

"On Sunday I received a call from him and he said: 'President, since you have retired the '10' until Santos returns to the first division, then retire the '11' until I return," Teixeira told TV 'Santa Cecilia'.

Neymar's request was interpreted by Teixeira as a sign of an eventual return of the player from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal to Santos, who will play in the second division for the first time in 2024 and where Neymar trained as a player.

"I was delighted and I'm already hopeful. I was very excited that the return to the first division is so fast and Neymar's return in the future as well. We will study the matter and we will also keep the 11 in reserve, waiting for Neymar to return," said the manager, who did not talk about specific dates.

On Saturday, in his first press conference after being elected as the club's new president, Teixeira announced that Santos will refrain from wearing the '10' shirt of their greatest idol, Pele, who died at the age of 82 on December 2022.

"We are going to momentarily retire the '10' and '11'. Nobody can wear the number 10 any more, which will only be worn by a new star when we go up to the top flight. And the '11' will also wait until our star player returns," Teixeira said on Monday, although the decision is up to the club's members.

Santos lost 2-1 at home to Fortaleza on Wednesday in the final round of the Brazilian league and were relegated for the first time in their 111-year history. The relegation sparked violent demonstrations by their fans, who invaded the pitch, vandalised shops and set fire to buses and cars around the stadium.