Neymar slammed for lacking essential semifinal recreation with Santos days after Carnival pics went viral

SAO PAULO: Neymar’s excuse for lacking a semifinal with Santos was criticized as a result of he was seen at Carnival final week.

Santos misplaced to archrival Corinthians 2-1 on Sunday within the semifinals of the Sao Paulo state championship, and Neymar sat on the bench for all 90 minutes. On Monday, he mentioned he had a minor harm with out elaborating.

Days earlier, the striker was photographed at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, the venue for the glitzy Carnival parade.

Neymar, who rejoined his boyhood membership Santos in January, attended the Carnival parade solely hours after being substituted within the second half of one other Sao Paulo state championship match on March 2 due to an obvious left thigh harm.

He lately recovered from an ACL tear that sidelined him for multiple yr.

Santos didn’t reveal Neymar had any accidents earlier than Sunday’s semifinal.

“All I needed was to be on the pitch and assist my teammates ultimately,” Neymar mentioned on Instagram. “However final Thursday I felt a discomfort that prevented me from being on the pitch. We took a take a look at this morning and I ended up feeling it once more.”

Santos coach Pedro Caixinha mentioned he requested Neymar to remain on the bench regardless of the harm.

“It was only a discomfort, however it meant he couldn’t take part. It was my request and he agreed to be with the squad,” Caixinha mentioned in a information convention after his crew’s elimination. “He’s a distinct participant, he’s enlightened and has improbable power. Neymar suffered rather a lot for not having the ability to take part within the recreation.”

Nonetheless, many pundits accused Neymar of not specializing in his profession, which he’s attempting to revive on the Brazilian membership following spells at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal.

“He selected Carnival over the semifinal,” standard pundit Walter Casagrande Jr. mentioned on his social media channels. “Neymar’s habits of the final 5, six years has come again. He switches the skilled aspect for pleasure and enjoyable.”

Santos president Marcelo Texeira instructed native media that Neymar was examined a number of instances from Friday to Sunday and all of them confirmed he was unfit to play towards Corinthians.

“It’s a precaution, we understood we shouldn’t (play him),” Teixeira mentioned. “It’s not concerning the nationwide crew, it’s as a result of he had not circumstances (to play). He’s in a means of restoration. We have to perceive that.”

Spanish newspaper Marca described the Brazilian participant’s week as “Neymar’s saddest Carnival after being tossed by Barcelona; on the bench and knocked out.”

The 33-year-old striker has three objectives and three assists in seven matches for Santos since his return. These stats satisfied Brazil coach Dorival Jr. to recall him for World Cup qualifiers this month towards Colombia and Argentina.

Neymar’s subsequent match for Santos is probably going on March 29, after the worldwide window, within the opening spherical of the Brazilian league towards Vasco da Gama. Santos was promoted to the nation’s prime league after its 2023 relegation.