Gabriel Barbosa's return to Santos had an unexpected and tense episode during his official presentation. While the striker was answering questions from the press in the club's conference room, members of Santos' organized supporters' group entered the room and left him a direct message: “You owe us. You know how things are.”

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Gabigol, formerly of Flamengo and most recently with Cruzeiro, returned to the club where he developed and is already training under the Argentine coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda. Expectations for his return were high, but the official ceremony took a different turn when the supporters' group burst in just before the official photos, wearing the number nine jersey he will wear in this new chapter.

The fans climbed onto the platform where the player was standing and gave him a cap and a shirt bearing the name of their group, “Sangue Jovem do Santos” (Young Blood of Santos). Wearing the new colors, Gabigol greeted them and listened to the warning without responding publicly. The message was interpreted as a clear demand for performance, in a context marked by doubts surrounding his current sporting situation. The striker's arrival was not without prior questioning. His signing came after a period with few minutes played at Cruzeiro, despite receiving a salary close to four million dollars annually. This situation had generated criticism among some sectors of the fanbase, who viewed the management's gamble with suspicion in a year in which Santos seeks to put a difficult 2025 behind them. The sporting project and Gabigol's words: Before the fans entered the stadium, Gabriel Barbosa had made several statements about his current situation and his objectives. Regarding the possibility of sharing a team with Neymar, one of the cornerstones of the club's new sporting project, he stated: “I'm here to help him get in top form, both on and off the field. We spoke when everything was settled. We are very happy to share the locker room and the field. It was very quick with the national team,And now we can be close. We are very happy to be together again.” The striker also offered a broader perspective on the team's current situation. “It's a year of evolution compared to last year, and I include myself in that. Of course, it's a very new team, but also a very good one. They showed that at the end of the season. Vojvoda will have a little more time to get to know the players better,” he explained. He also highlighted his personal connection with Neymar: “Everyone knows that Neymar is my idol and also a friend. I was able to play with him on the national team.” Gabigol arrived at Santos on a one-year loan, until December 2026, while his contract with Cruzeiro runs until December 2028. In that context, he thanked the club that owns his rights for facilitating the transfer: “I want to thank Cruzeiro for understanding this very personal moment. Things weren't as easy as we imagined; they always knew I wanted to return to Santos.” I'm so happy this happened.”