Victor Hugo Says Neymar Inspired His Move to Santos

Santos announced the signing of Victor Hugo on Friday. The 21-year-old midfielder joins on loan from Flamengo until July 2026 and will wear the No. 29 shirt. Club legend Clodoaldo participated in the presentation, where Victor Hugo mentioned Neymar’s influence in his decision to join.

The young player shared that a message from Neymar played a key role in his choice. “When Neymar sends you a message, it makes a difference. He was the one who inspired my love for football as a kid. That weighed heavily in my decision,” he said. Neymar also wished him good luck and offered support for the move.

Regarding his role under coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, Victor Hugo expressed his flexibility, saying he can play as either a box-to-box midfielder or a playmaker. “I can play as an 8 or 10. I like to be involved in the build-up and also get into the box to score,” he explained.

The midfielder was on loan at Turkish club Göztepe last season, where he said he improved his defensive skills. Now, he looks forward to establishing himself at Santos, who will next face Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte.