Brazilian football star Neymar has publicly apologized to Santos teammate Robinho Jr. for slapping him during a training session, with the two appearing to have resolved the dispute during a subsequent match.

“If you want an apology in front of the press, here it is. I had already apologized to him and to his family. I crossed the line,” Neymar said after Santos’s 1-1 draw against Recoleta in Paraguay on Tuesday.

Santos had earlier announced an investigation into the altercation between Neymar and the son of Robinho, the former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker. According to Brazilian media, the spat occurred because Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, did not appreciate being dribbled past by the 18-year-old during a training session on Sunday.

Robinho Jr. confirmed after the Copa Sudamericana match that Neymar had slapped him but said the incident was over: “Everything is resolved. It’s a situation that upset me because he’s been my idol since childhood. … I talked about it with my parents, and I accept his apology.”

During the match, Neymar scored Santos’s goal and hugged Robinho Jr. during the celebration. “He’s a boy I like very much, for whom I have a special affection. It happens in football; you argue with your friend, your brother,” Neymar said.

Despite recurring physical problems, Neymar, 34, still hopes to be called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti for this year’s World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19. He has not played for Brazil since October 2023. Ancelotti is due to name his final squad on May 18.

Robinho Jr.’s father, Robinho, 42, a former Santos teammate of Neymar, is currently imprisoned in Brazil after being convicted in Italy for gang rape.

Source: www.aljazeera.com