Marcos and Rogerio Ceni. The two goalkeepers head the list of players in great Brazilian clubs who have spent their entire careers with the institution which handed them their debut. Wednesday's announcement means Neymar has the opportunity to join them, but in a completely different manner.
The 1960s were possibly the most inspired years in Brazilian football history in terms of creating talent. The generation was spectacular and, moreover, the players stayed in the country, inextricably linked with their clubs. The Santos era of Pele, Garrincha and Nilton Santos' Botafogo, the Cruzeiro team of Tostao, and a young Rivelino sparkling in Corinthians - all moments in history that will be forever savoured by fans in the football-mad nation, but not just for the mere fact that they stayed put, but also for their extraordinary quality.
Nobody is saying that Marcos and Rogerio are not good players, far from that. But the level that the two venerable goalkeepers reached at their peak does not bear comparison with the status of those who formulate the splendid list above. This privilege will now belong to the Santistas as they watch Neymar strut the turf in Vila Belmiro.
In all honesty, this writer was curious to see how Neymar would adapt to European football, with its style and form so different from our own. This curiosity now mixes with the cultural significance of Neymar's commitment to staying put. How will we, fans of Brazilian football, adapt to the daily sight of an idol who is here for the best years of his career?
The last time this happened was with Romario, who was brought home by Flamengo in 1995. Attention on the former Barcelona forward was unrelenting, but one cannot help but think that it pales into insignificance compared to the circus in which Neymar will live for the next three years.
"Barca and Madrid were interested, but we all have choices to make. My choice is Santos"
The Santos forward lives in an era of incessant media attention in football, and an intense diffusion of information and news. Aside from this, there is the oft-mentioned question of loyalty to one's club. Neymar now has everything he needs to be playing in Brazil at the peak of his career, just like Romario once was, but together with this he can reach the iconic status of a Marcos or Rogerio in the adoring eyes of the fans.
The combination of these two factors can turn the youngster into a mythical figure, as one of the journalists present at the press conference where he reiterated his desire to become a Santos legend predicted so eloquently. He may not become as iconic as Pele, but the brash teenager has the opportunity to emulate 'O Rei' and those unforgettable stars of yesteryear in the 21st century.
