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Neymar has admitted he "crossed the line" and issued a public apology to his Santos teammate Robinho Jr following an incident during a training session.
The situation arose at the club's Rei Pelé Training Centre, where the 18-year-old forward reportedly accused Neymar of slapping him after a moment in play where he dribbled past the senior player. The club launched an internal review but later confirmed that the matter had been resolved, stating that both players had settled their differences.
Neymar addressed the issue openly, acknowledging that his reaction was excessive. He said he lost control in the moment and recognized that his behavior should have been handled differently. While he noted that disagreements can happen in football, he accepted responsibility for escalating the situation further than it should have gone.
The experienced forward emphasized that he holds Robinho Jr in high regard, describing him as someone he cares about and respects. He added that such conflicts can occur even between close teammates, comparing it to disagreements among friends or family, and stressed that it is part of the emotional nature of the sport.
The pair showed signs of reconciliation shortly after. During Santos' 1-1 draw against Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana, Neymar celebrated his goal by embracing Robinho Jr, who was on the bench at the time. The moment suggested that tensions had eased following their earlier clash.
Robinho Jr also spoke about the incident, confirming that Neymar apologized multiple times soon after it happened. He said the situation initially upset him, especially because Neymar had long been one of his idols growing up. Despite that, he made it clear that the matter has been resolved and that there are no lingering issues between them.
He also addressed the public reaction, noting that some of the narratives circulating were inaccurate and that it was unfortunate to see the situation gain so much attention. He reiterated that he still respects Neymar and values their relationship.
Neymar, who remains Brazil national football team's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, used the moment to underline that mistakes happen even at the highest level of the game. Both players have since moved forward, with the club confirming that the matter is closed.
