Santos: Neymar has expressed remorse for his actions after slapping his Santos teammate, Robinho Jr, during a training session. The Brazilian football star admitted he "crossed the line" and publicly apologized to the 18-year-old forward. The incident occurred after Robinho Jr successfully dribbled past Neymar, prompting a physical reaction from the 34-year-old.
According to Ghana Web, the Brazilian club initiated an investigation in response to Robinho Jr's accusation of receiving "a violent slap to the face" from Neymar on Sunday. However, the situation has since been resolved, with Santos announcing on Tuesday that matters were "all sorted" following the incident at the Rei Pele Training Centre.
Neymar offered a public apology, stating, "If you want an apology in front of the media, here it is." He acknowledged his overreaction, adding that he "ended up losing my head" and that it was a mistake on his part. Neymar, who holds the title of Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals, emphasized that arguments and misunderstandings are part of the game.
Following the incident, Neymar celebrated a goal for Santos during a 1-1 draw with Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana by embracing substitute Robinho Jr. The teenager, who is the son of Neymar's former Brazil teammate Robinho, confirmed that Neymar apologized multiple times, recognizing his mistake immediately.
Robinho Jr expressed that the situation was upsetting, as Neymar has been his idol since childhood. Despite the incident, he affirmed that they have reconciled, stating, "I'm fine, I like him a lot. We've already talked and it's all sorted."