According to witnesses, Neymar slapped and tripped Santos teammate Robinho Jr during a heated training session on Monday, striking him with an open hand and tripping him to the ground. The incident began when Neymar, 31, told the 18-year-old son of former Brazil forward Robinho to "take it easy" during a possession drill, before a minor disagreement escalated. According to multiple Brazilian media outlets, including Globo Esporte and UOL, Neymar and Robinho Jr have long shared a close bond that has been likened to a godfather-godson relationship, with Neymar taking the younger player under his wing since returning to Santos.
The same outlets further reported that the atmosphere at the training center calmed down quickly, and Neymar sought out Robinho Jr to apologize before the session concluded, with several witnesses noting that the apology appeared sincere and was accepted with an embrace. Multiple Brazilian media outlets, including Globo Esporte and UOL, have reported that coaching staff removed both players from the remainder of the training session as a consequence of the incident, though the club did not immediately explain the decision, surprising many observers. Robinho Jr's representatives confirmed that they lodged a formal complaint with Santos president Andres Rueda shortly after the incident, although the specific nature and demands of the complaint remained confidential.
When contacted by reporters, Neymar's representatives stated that they were unaware of any training-ground altercation. Meanwhile, Santos has not issued an official comment on the matter, according to Brazilian media outlets including Globo Esporte. The lack of an official statement has led to widespread speculation among fans and local media about possible internal tensions and disciplinary measures within the squad.
Neymar was omitted from Santos' squad for the subsequent match against Palmeiras, with the club officially attributing the decision to concerns over the synthetic pitch at Allianz Parque, as reported by Brazilian sports daily Lance! and other outlets, though many have questioned the timing given the altercation. It remains unclear whether the training-ground incident directly influenced Neymar's exclusion from the match, if Robinho Jr was injured, or if Santos will take disciplinary action, and the Brazilian Football Confederation has so far refused to comment on any potential World Cup implications, fueling further speculation.