Neymar Apologises to Robinho Jr After Santos Training-Ground Slap

PEDRO JUAN CABALLERO, Paraguay (AFP) — Neymar has offered a public apology to his Santos teammate Robinho Junior over a slap delivered in training, and both men signalled the matter was settled during a fixture on Tuesday.

Santos confirmed earlier in the week that an internal probe had been launched into the flare-up between Neymar and the son of former Real Madrid and Manchester City forward Robinho.

"If you want an apology in front of the press, here it is. I had already apologised to him and to his family. I crossed the line," Neymar told journalists following Santos' 1-1 draw with Recoleta in Paraguay.

Reports in the Brazilian press say the row erupted on Sunday after Neymar, who holds the record as the national team's leading scorer, took exception to being beaten on the dribble by his 18-year-old colleague during a training drill.

Speaking after the Copa Sudamericana fixture on Tuesday, Robinho Jr acknowledged that Neymar had struck him but indicated the matter was closed, saying: "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," he added.

During the contest, Neymar netted Santos' equaliser and embraced the younger player as part of 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.

Now 34 and still battling repeated injury setbacks, Neymar remains hopeful that coach Carlo Ancelotti will include him in Brazil's squad for this year's World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. He has been absent from the national side since October 2023, and Ancelotti is expected to confirm his final list on May 18.

Robinho, 42, who once played alongside Neymar at Santos, is presently behind bars in Brazil after an Italian court convicted and sentenced him for gang rape.