Santos end Neymar row, keep number 10 as captain

Santos has decided to put an end to the controversies involving Neymar after the incident in the match against Flamengo last Sunday (9), at Maracanã.

Even after the striker’s complaints and heated behavior, coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, with the backing of the board, chose not to impose any punishments, according to information obtained by ge.

The player remains captain and is expected to start in the derby against Palmeiras, Saturday (16), at 9 p.m., at Vila Belmiro, in a rescheduled Brasileirão match.

According to ge, the club felt that any sanction would only increase the negative repercussions of the case.

The priority right now is to keep the focus on the fight against relegation and preserve the team’s environment.

Neymar acknowledged that he went overboard with his criticism directed at Vojvoda and his teammates during the 3-2 defeat to Flamengo.

The number 10 called the coach, apologized, and attributed his loss of control to irritation with referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio.

The star’s attitude was viewed positively by the board, which valued the gesture of self-criticism.

Alexandre Mattos, football director and one of Neymar’s biggest allies within the club, defended the player on social media, calling him a “misunderstood genius” and reinforcing public support for the number 10.

Despite internal criticism, there is consensus that Neymar remains a key player for Santos’s recovery in the championship.

The club hopes this episode will serve as a lesson and that the star will focus his energy on leading the team on the field.

The atmosphere at Vila Belmiro is one of attempted pacification. The Santos leadership believes that Vojvoda’s recent stance, firm yet conciliatory, helped contain the fallout and bring the so-called “Neymar case” to a close without further harm to the group.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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Source: Sports Yahoo