Neymar's Santos return can send legendary Brazilian off in blaze of glory and enjoyment after underrated career.

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  • The 32-year-old has cut short his stay in Saudi Arabia to secure an emotional reunion back at his boyhood club
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  • Neymar's career wasn't supposed to flitter and fade out at 32 years of age. In perhaps a more just world, he'd still be lighting up the Champions League, have many more major titles to his name for club and country, and would only be gradually entering his twilight years while still as an effective player at the top level.

For one reason or another - be that injuries, ambitions or simply luck - that's not what's happened. Instead, Neymar is heading back to Santos, the club where he announced his future legend, as a free agent. His contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal was this week terminated, ensuring his 17-month spell in Saudi Arabia goes down as one of the worst transfers of all time having made a meagre seven appearances.

A monumental pay cut has been agreed, such is Neymar's desire to head back to his homeland and be at peace again. The last year-and-a-half has been tormented by a complex knee injury and two unceremonious exits, first from Paris Saint-Germain and now Al-Hilal.

The complicated tale of Neymar's career has made him one of this generation's most divisive players; maybe now we can all lower our arms and begin to appreciate his greatness as appropriate.Santos quickly cottoned onto Neymar's brilliance, which was more than apparent after he was offered a trial for Real Madrid aged 14. Three years later, he had broken into the senior setup back home and broke double figures for goals in his first season, drawing the watchful eyes of Chelsea and West Ham.

• Rejection from Brazil's World Cup 2010 squad seemed to serve as motivation for Neymar, who registered a staggering 42 goals in 60 games as Santos claimed Campeonato Paulista glory. The records and trophies kept on tumbling, with the teenage sensation leading the Peixe to their first Copa Libertadores title since the days of Pele in 1963.

  That's when the rest of the world caught up with the Neymar hype. Continental glory was enough already to get eyes on him, but he still went one step further with one of the most outrageous winners of the FIFA Puskas Award. Receiving the ball wide left and with two defenders surrounding his immediate route back infield, he slithered between the pair and played a quick one-two upfield to relieve himself of immediate pressure, regaining possession more centrally and 30 yards from goal. One ball-roll and a trick of the eyes later and he had breached the penalty area, with a dink over the onrushing goalkeeper finishing off an outrageous passage.

  Neymar was essential viewing, despite playing in a below second-rate league and away from club football's most dominant continent. It made him the last pioneer of a lost genre, the YouTube footballer. Highlight packages and compilations spread like wildfire in 360p or less. You wanted a glimpse of Neymar, you needed to see Brazil's next superstar.

  After two more years with Santos, Neymar finalised a deal to join Barcelona, to rub shoulders with Lionel Messi.