'Glad to see you well!' - Neymar reunites with ex-PSG team-mate Xavi Simons ahead of Santos' friendly clash with RB Leipzig

Neymar reunited with his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Simons earlier this week as the Dutchman is set to face off against the Brazilian when Santos and RB Leipzig lock horns in a club friendly on Wednesday, May 28. Neymar took to social media to post a photo of himself with Simons, writing: "Glad to see you well and welcome to @institutoneymarjr. See you tonight".

A product of the famed La Masia academy, Simons was signed by PSG in 2019. He made his official first-team debut in February 2021 and made a total of 11 appearances before being signed by Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2022. After scoring 22 goals in 48 games in the 2022-23 season with PSV, PSG exercised their buy-back option on Simons, but immediately loaned him out to Leipzig in 2023. Having become among the most effective talents in the Bundesliga, Leipzig signed Simons permanently in January 2025 in a club-record deal.

As for Neymar, he joined PSG from Barcelona for a world record transfer fee in 2017 and made 173 appearances, scoring 118 goals. He left for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in 2023, and then returned to boyhood club Santos in January 2025 following an injury-riddled stint in the Middle East.

Speaking to Red Bull on Monday, Simons spoke about his relationship with Neymar and said: "He already knew me from Barcelona and was like a father for me. I will be eternally grateful to him for that. It was a big dream to play with my idol and he's still an important person for me."

RB Leipzig will become the first team from the Bundesliga in 25 years to play a match in Brazil when Santos and Leipzig clash at the Cicero de Souza Marques stadium in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, May 28.

It remains to be seen if Neymar extends his stay at Santos or seeks new employers this summer. He was not included in Carlo Ancelotti's latest Brazil squad, although the ex-Real Madrid manager did concede that he'll be central to his scheme at the 2026 World Cup.

Talking about Simons, he has been heavily tipped to leave RB Leipzig this summer and move to one of Europe's biggest clubs. If reports are to be believed, then Manchester United are the frontrunners to acquire the Netherlands international's services.