Neymar says sorry for hitting teammate Robinho Jr during practice session

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Santos FC forward Neymar has apologised after admitting he “crossed the line” by slapping teenage team-mate Robinho Jr during a training session at Santos FC.

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The incident reportedly took place on Sunday at the club’s training facility, after the 18-year-old forward dribbled past Neymar, prompting an angry reaction from the 34-year-old.

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As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, Robinho Jr accused Neymar of delivering a “violent slap to the face,” leading the club to open an internal investigation.

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By Tuesday, Santos confirmed the matter had been resolved, describing the situation as “all sorted” following discussions between the players.

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Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, publicly accepted responsibility for his actions and did not attempt to downplay the moment.

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He said, “If you want an apology in front of the media, here it is.

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“I did overreact in the way I reacted. It could have been different, but I ended up losing my head.

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“Everyone makes mistakes. It was my mistake, his mistake, but I made the bigger mistake.”

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Despite the altercation, Neymar spoke warmly about his younger team-mate, describing Robinho Jr as someone he has “a special affection” for.

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He added that disagreements are part of football, comparing the incident to arguments between friends or brothers.

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Robinho Jr, the son of former Brazil international Robinho, said Neymar apologised immediately after the incident and repeated that apology several times.

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“It was a situation that upset me because he has been my idol since I was a child.

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“But he realised straight away that he had gone too far.
n“We’ve already talked about it. I’m fine, I like him a lot, and it’s all sorted,” the teenager said.n

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The pair appeared to have put the incident behind them during Tuesday’s match, when Neymar celebrated his goal in a 1-1 draw by embracing Robinho Jr on the touchline.

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Santos will now look to move on quickly, with both players expected to remain part of the squad without further disciplinary action.

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