Neymar Apologizes to Teammate's Son After Slapping Him During Training
Al Jazeera English
Neymar publicly apologized to Robinho Jr., son of former star Robinho, after slapping the 18-year-old during a Santos training session. The incident occurred after Neymar was dribbled past by the young teammate, leading to a heated exchange. Santos opened an investigation, but both parties said the matter is resolved after Neymar's apology.
Neymar publicly apologized to Robinho Jr., his teammate at Santos, for slapping the 18-year-old during a training session. The incident took place late last week, when Neymar was displeased after being dribbled past by Robinho Jr.
Speaking after Santos' 1-1 draw against Recoleta in Paraguay on Tuesday, Neymar said: "If you want an apology in front of the press, here it is. I apologized to him and his family. I went too far."
Santos said they opened an investigation into the altercation between Neymar and Robinho Jr., son of former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker Robinho. According to Brazilian media, the conflict arose when Neymar did not like being beaten by the young teammate during Sunday's training.
Robinho Jr. confirmed Neymar slapped him but said the matter is resolved: "Everything has been sorted. It was a situation that made me sad because he's been my idol since childhood. I spoke with my parents and accepted the apology."
During the match, Neymar scored for Santos and embraced Robinho Jr. during the celebration. "This is a kid I really like, I have special affection for him. In football, arguments with friends and brothers are normal," Neymar added.
Despite fitness issues, Neymar, 34, still hopes to be called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the 2025 World Cup (June 11 to July 19). He has not played for Brazil since October 2023. Ancelotti is expected to announce the final squad on May 18.
Robinho, 42, Neymar's former teammate at Santos, is currently serving a prison sentence in Brazil for gang rape.
