Santos prodigy Neymar has apologized for acts of indiscipline that have marred his meteoric rise to fame. The gifted 18-year-old forward, who turned down a 20 million euro (US$26.2 million) move to Chelsea and made his Brazil debut last month, had been in danger of spoiling his image as a smiling, carefree youngster brimming with talent on the pitch and relaxed off it.
Last Sunday, he sparked a free-for-all at the end of Santos’ 2-1 away loss to Ceara after berating a rival defender for his rough marking.
He also chastised captain Edu Dracena and coach Dorival Junior after Edu chose another player to take a penalty in Santos’ 4-2 home win over Atletico Goianiense on Wednesday.
Fined by Santos and criticized publicly by his teammates after his heated exchange with Edu and Dorival, he made an emotional statement on Thursday.
“I’m here to say more than sorry and [I expect] no pardon. I got home and saw what I’d done,” Neymar told reporters while holding back tears. “I acted wrongly, I left even my father and mother shocked ... I’m ashamed of what happened.”
“I say sorry to Dorival, sorry to Edu, who is the team captain, and to my teammates. I apologize to ... kids who look up to Neymar. Forgive me for what I did,” he said.
Possibly a mere coincidence, the behavior of one of Brazilian soccer’s biggest jewels began after he turned Chelsea down to sign a new five-year deal with Santos.
In the first half of the year, he shared the limelight with the on loan Robinho and fellow youngster Paulo Henrique Ganso as part of a brilliant trio that inspired Santos to the Paulista (Sao Paulo) state championship and the Copa Brasil.
Now, Robinho has left for AC Milan and Ganso is out until next year through injury.
Santos said they would help Neymar in whatever way they could, but expected a professional attitude from him.
“The club will demand deep changes in his behavior on and off the field, with his colleagues and opponents and will support the player so this moment of difficulty can be overcome,” they said in a statement.
Seen as a key component for the future of the Brazil side, Neymar’s behavior has been closely watched by national team coach Mano Menezes.
“He needs to know how to behave as a stand-out player in Brazilian football and later out there in world football,” Menezes told TV Globo. “If we allow these [things] to happen with such frequency in his club, in no time it will get transferred to the Brazil team.”
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
RSS