Neymar apologises to Santos teammate Robinho Jr for slapping him in training

Neymar has publicly apologised to his Santos teammate, Robinho Júnior, for slapping him during a training session, as the pair appeared to put the dispute behind them during a game on Tuesday.

Santos said they had opened an investigation earlier in the week following the altercation between Neymar and the 18-year-old son of Robinho, the former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker.

“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 reporters after Santos’ 1-1 draw against Recoleta in Paraguay.

According to Brazilian media, the spat occurred because Neymar, the national team’s all-time leading scorer, did not appreciate being dribbled past by his teenage teammate during a training session at the club’s CT Rei Pelé complex on Sunday.

Robinho Jr confirmed after the Copa Sudamericana match on Tuesday that Neymar had slapped him, but said the incident was over, stating: “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.”

Robinho Jr, the son of Brazil international Robinho, described Neymar as his ‘idol since childhood’. Photograph: Marco Buenavista/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock

Neymar scored Santos’ goal during Tuesday’s game 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,” said Neymar.

Despite his recurring injury problems, Neymar still hopes to be called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti for this summer’s World Cup. Now 34, the forward has not played for Brazil since October 2023. Ancelotti is due to name his final squad on 18 May,

A former teammate of Neymar at Santos, 42-year-old Robinho is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil, after being convicted of rape in Italy in 2017.