Too much controversy? For many, the former Parisian’s bloodshed against his young teammate Robinho Junior has in fact destroyed for good his last hopes of participating in the World Cup with the Seleçao. His chances of appearing in the list to be communicated by Carlo Ancelotti next week were certainly already very slim given his performances since his return to the field.
But by slapping then putting the son of the former Madrilenian to the ground following a simple dribble, the native of Sao Paulo comforted his many detractors. And it’s not the goal scored in Santos’ draw against Deportivo Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana that will be enough to change their minds.
The slap affair overshadowed everything and Neymar was able to publicly apologize after the match. “ These are things that happen in football, he confided to begin with in remarks relayed by ESPN Brazil. First, this should have been resolved between us. It was a misunderstanding in training, a reaction on my part, and I went a bit out of line. But right after, we apologized, we talked in the locker room, Robinho Jr. and I, and we understood each other. »
“It happens in football”
“He’s a boy that I really like, I’ve always had a special affection for him. It happens in football, you argue with your brother, with your friend, I argued with several of my footballer friends, I argued with everyone, he continued. These things should have been resolved here, it shouldn’t have happened like this. Then it got into the hands of people who don’t know the daily life of football, and it ended up making things very negative. »
“If they want an apology to the press, here it is,
he then said. I had already apologized to him and his family. I overreacted, yes. Things could have gone differently, but I ended up losing my cool. Everyone makes mistakes. It was my fault, it was his fault, I made a bigger mistake. But I had already apologized, I thought the problem was resolved between us, after the locker room break. »
Robinho Jr calms things down
Neymar was on the wrong track since Robinho Jr turned to justice by filing a complaint against his teammate. “I thought it was settled between us in the locker room, I apologized in front of the whole group, we thought it was over, but here comes another bomb, commented the Brazilian playmaker again. Obviously, it made more noise because I was the one who experienced it, especially here in Brazil, where you all say my name every day. The slightest fight, the slightest argument in the locker room… All footballers know it, it happens: fights, punches, slaps, everything happens. It’s football, it’s part of the game. I fought several times in the locker room and it stays there. It’s part of the game, it’s not normal, but when it happens, you have to deal with it as best you can. »
In the process, Robinho Jr also spoke and announced that he would withdraw his complaint against his teammate. “I have to say that this situation affected me a lot, because he is my idol. I have admired him since I was little, he indicated. He gave me a jersey when I was eight, and I cried. It was a mistake, he admitted it, and I had the courage to go and talk to him. Everything is back to normal. There are so many false things being said, it’s sad that it has become so widespread. Everything is settled. »
