Rio de Janeiro, May 2 (NationPress) The newly appointed Santos head coach, Cleber Xavier, asserts that Neymar will be allowed a more versatile role as the club aims to bounce back from a challenging start to the season.

During his inaugural press conference after taking over from Pedro Caixinha, Xavier indicated that Neymar would probably not revert to the left wing, where he initially gained fame during his time at Barcelona.

"He played on that flank [the left] at Barcelona and with the national team, but now he is better suited to an attacking midfielder's position," Xavier remarked. Tite, the former Brazil coach, referred to him as both a bow and an arrow because he manages the play and also finishes scoring opportunities. He has been performing in that capacity for quite some time, and I envision him doing so here as well."

Neymar, who made a comeback to his childhood club Santos from Al-Hilal in January, has faced several leg muscle injuries since his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last October.

The 33-year-old has participated in only nine matches during his latest stint with the eight-time Brazilian top-flight champions, netting three goals and registering three assists.

Xavier, who served as an assistant to Brazil's national team from 2016 to 2022, expressed confidence that Neymar would soon overcome his physical challenges and regain peak performance.

He dismissed any claims that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was not fully dedicated to Santos' objectives.

"Neymar has returned to the club he cherishes," Xavier stated. "He is delighted to be here, and his teammates appreciate his presence. We collaborated for six and a half years. He is an idol - one of the greatest players in recent history.

"People inquire if Neymar is a concern. Never, not once. He has always been a solution, both on and off the pitch. The first player I met with was him. He expressed happiness about being with me, and I feel the same way."

Although Neymar has not yet resumed training, Xavier noted that the No. 10 is having a positive impact on his teammates.

"He brings happiness to the locker room," the head coach commented. "We briefly discussed this yesterday. Just by being around, he is contributing, even without playing. That is the unity I aim to cultivate. We aspire to establish a strong bond among the entire squad, which will hopefully reflect in our performance."

Santos currently occupies the 19th position in the 20-team Brazilian Serie A standings, having secured only one victory from six matches thus far. Xavier's debut match in charge will be an away game against Gremio on Sunday.