Santos' economic ruin and fear of relegation: more than 150 million in debt

A fter a forgettable spell in Saudi Arabian football, Neymar returned last January to the club where he grew up, Santos. His return has been surrounded by controversy : clashes with fans and the press, as well as internal tensions with some teammates and the board of the Sao Paulo club.

In sporting terms, the situation is hanging by a thread. With four rounds remaining in the Brasileirao season, Santos are in 16th place with 37 points, just one point above the relegation zone to Serie B .

But the problem goes far beyond the pitch. According to Brazilian media, the club is dragging a debt of more than 150 million euros net (977 million reais) and a new relegation (already consummated in 2023) could further deteriorate the economy of one of the historic Brazilian soccer clubs.

In this scenario, the board is considering a drastic measure: to transform Santos into a Sociedad Anonima (SA) and sell up to 90% of the capital of the new structure to a private investor.

The club is valued at 2.2 billion reais, around 346 million euros , making it one of the most important deals in Brazilian football history.

Chelsea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia interested

Although it has not yet been officially put up for sale, interest is already international. Chelsea , through its parent company BlueCo, is said to have sounded out the possibility of acquiring the club, as have Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) , the owners of PSG, and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).