Overview
- FC Cincinnati contacted Neymar’s representatives on Thursday to gauge interest in a move, with The Athletic and ESPN calling the discussions very preliminary.
- Club officials are still debating whether to pursue a formal bid, according to reporting that describes the outreach as an internal fact‑finding step.
- Cincinnati currently has no open Designated Player slot, with Evander, Kévin Denkey and Miles Robinson filling the three DP spots that allow salaries outside MLS’s cap.
- Neymar remains under contract at Santos until December 2026, a timeline that limits near‑term options and points to any major decision coming later in the year.
- Santos coach Cuca said Neymar had a recent knee procedure as he targets June’s World Cup, and multiple outlets report any firm move is expected to wait until after the tournament; published reports also note large image‑rights and marketing guarantees that could raise the price of any MLS deal.