Neymar and Brazil arrive in Russia

Brazilian superstar Neymar is reportedly ready to accept a huge pay cut to facilitate a return to his boyhood club Santos and the booter is likely to complete the move soon.

Neymar is currently signed at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, for whom he has played only seven games in a year and a half.

Although he still has six months left in his contract Al Hilal, the Brazilian is reportedly pushing for a return to Brazil.

Earlier this month, Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus had revealed that the club won't register the 32-year-old for the second half of the Saudi league, saying the Brazilian can no longer keep up with the level of the club.

"Neymar will not be registered in the team for the championship. He can participate in the Asian Champions League. The Saudi League is one of the best leagues in the world. All Al-Hilal players can play for any club in Europe. Neymar can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.

"He is still under contract with Al Hilal and it may be up to him to decide his future. It depends on the administration. I don't know anything about Neymar's future," Jesus told the media on January 16.

Neymar could potentially terminate his contract with Al Hilal or complete a loan move to Santos. The Brazilian could also just wait out the rest of his contract, but multiple media reports suggest that Neymar is eager to complete the move in the winter break.

Apple is considering increasing iPhone assembly in Brazil to reduce the impact of new US tariffs on Chinese imports, according to a recent report by Apple-centric news platform 9to5Mac. US President Donald Trump recently announced steep tariffs on goods from several countries, including a 34% levy on Chinese products—a major concern for Apple, which manufactures most of its devices in China.  

As per 9to5Mac, sources familiar with the matter told the Brazilian magazine Exame that Apple has been exploring ways to expand its production facilities in Brazil, where it already assembles entry-level iPhones through a partnership with Foxconn. The move could help Apple lower costs, as imports from Brazil face only a 10% US tariff—far less than those from China (34%) or India (26%).  

Brazil's telecom regulator, Anatel, recently certified Apple and Foxconn to produce the iPhone 16 locally, alongside existing assembly of the iPhone 13, 14, and 15, states the 9to5Mac report. The report also suggests Apple may even begin manufacturing iPhone 16 Pro models in Brazil for the first time. If successful, the Brazil-made iPhones could not only supply the local market but also be exported to the US, reducing Apple's tax burden.  

The tariffs have already hit Apple's stock, which has dropped over 10%, wiping out $300 billion in market value. Other US tech giants like Nvidia have also seen declines. By shifting more production to Brazil, Apple hopes to mitigate financial losses while navigating the escalating trade tensions.

Switzerland hit back with a thunderous strike by Granit Xhaka and a last-minute breakaway goal by Xherdan Shaqiri to claim a famous 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday in a swashbuckling World Cup Group E match tinged with Balkan rivalry.

The Swiss looked in danger of being over-run when Serbia went ahead with an Aleksandar Mitrovic header after five minutes to the delight of their fervent supporters at the Kaliningrad stadium.

Xhaka silenced the Serbian contingent in the 52nd minute, however, when he rifled home a loose ball in spectacular style from 25 metres before Shaqiri ran onto a through ball and finished with aplomb to win the game at the death.

Xhaka and Shaqiri are among several members of the Swiss squad who are of Kosovar heritage, which added an extra dimension to the match.

Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo which broke away 10 years ago.

"It's clear that emotions were displayed up and I think we all need to steer away from politics and focus on this sport as a beautiful game that brings people together," Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic told reporters.

There was also controversy in the 65th minute when Mitrovic appeared to be held down as he went for a cross but the referee waved play on and there was no video review.

The result left Brazil, 2-0 winners over Costa Rica, top with four points, ahead of Switzerland on goal difference with Serbia on three.

Serbia must beat Brazil in their final game to qualify without relying on the result of the Swiss game against Costa Rica, who are eliminated after losing their first two games.

"This is football, we did not convert some of our chances," Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said. "Whether this was a penalty or not, I will not comment on that.

"We’re in a situation where we need a win against Brazil on and we will focus and do whatever we can to try and win. Nothing is impossible in life."

FLYING START

Serbia made a flying start and Mitrovic forced Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer into an early save with a close-range header.

Sommer was powerless, however, in the fifth minute when Nemanja Matic won the ball and found Dusan Tadic, whose cross was met with a soaring header from Mitrovic.

With Mitrovic proving a handful for the Swiss defence, Serbia threatened to over-run their opponents and missed another chance when a corner flew across the face of goal and Dusko Tosic just failed to make contact.

Switzerland came right back into the game seven minutes after halftime thanks to Xhaka's fulminating strike after a rebound fell nicely into his path.

Xhaka was almost upstaged by Shaqiri who clipped the crossbar with a curling, dipping shot from the unlikeliest of angles and the match turned into a pulsating end-to-end affair which was brilliantly settled by Shaqiri.

Switzerland cleared a Serbia attack and a through pass sent the diminutive forward scuttling away before he slotted the ball neatly into the far corner.

"What is important is that we have developed this winning mentality even when we are down," said Petkovic, whose side have lost only one of their last 24 games.

"We always find a reaction. This is an important characteristic of my team."

Santos' president told Brazilian superstar Neymar it was "time to return to (his) people" in a video published on social media on Tuesday.

Club president Marcelo Teixeira took to Instagram to deliver the message to Neymar but did not officially confirm the 32-year-old's return to the club where he first broke through in 2009.

"The time has come, Neymar. The time has come for you to return to your people. To your home, to our beloved club," said Teixeira.

"Welcome back, Ney boy!... Come and be happy again in the sacred jersey. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms."

Neymar's contract with Saudi side Al Hilal was terminated by mutual consent on Monday, bringing to an end an injury-plagued 18-month stint in Riyadh.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward played just seven matches for the club after joining Al Hilal in August 2023, despite a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

Neymar came through the Santos academy and went on to make 225 appearances for the Brazilian Serie A side, netting 136 times.

He joined Barcelona in 2013, winning the Champions League two years later as part of a star-studded team also featuring Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

In 2017, Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain prised him away from Barca with what is still a world-record transfer fee of 220 million euros ($230 million).

Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches, two ahead of fellow ex-Santos player Pele.

Neymar's injury troubles resurfaced on Wednesday as he limped off just 30 minutes into Santos' match against Atlético Mineiro with a suspected hamstring problem.

The 33-year-old was visibly emotional before being stretchered off at Vila Belmiro, replaced in the 34th minute with Santos 2-0 up.

It was Neymar's first start since a left thigh issue ruled him out of Brazil's March fixtures and Santos' Paulista semi-final defeat to Corinthians. That injury followed a lengthy layoff from an ACL and meniscus tear suffered in October 2023.

Having rejoined Santos in January as a free agent after cutting ties with Al Hilal -- where he played just seven times in 18 months due to persistent injuries -- questions will now mount over whether the forward was rushed back too soon.