Neymar has also made a habit of getting drawn into verbal wars with opposing supporters, and caused uproar again on Tuesday night after Santos’ narrow Copa do Brasil win against Remo, who are a point behind them in the Serie A standings. The round of 16 tie was delicately poised after a 0-0 draw at Vila Belmiro in the first leg, and Neymar made the difference after stepping off the bench in the second half, teeing up Rony to score a late winner.
However, Santos made very hard work of beating a side who had a man sent off inside the first 30 minutes, and are minnows by comparison in Brazil, given this is the first season Remo have competed in the top flight in 32 years. It wasn’t a victory that warranted any kind of wild celebrations, but Neymar couldn’t resist taunting Remo fans and officials when passing through the mixed zone.
He was seen screaming “eliminated!” at the top of his lungs multiple times and performed a mocking dance before heading into the Santos dressing room, which did not go down well with Remo president Antonio Carlos Teixeira. “That bum Neymar, who’s idolised by a bunch of kids, pulled his stunts here and then comes to provoke us. We’re guilty of idolising a bunch of bums like that,” Teixeira said to O Fluxo, per ESPN.
Calling Neymar a “bum” is excessive, but there was definitely no need for his outburst. According to ESPN, chants of “go f*ck yourself” rained down on Neymar during the match, which he responded to with sarcastic waves, and he later said in an Instagram post: “The guys insult me, I celebrate, and they get mad.”
Reacting in such a childish fashion lowers Neymar to the same level as those who targeted him. Unfortunately, most top-level footballers have to face verbal ribbing from the stands, and the best response is always silence, unless it veers into abuse territory. At this late stage in his career, Neymar should have the wisdom to rise above it and let his football do the talking, but he still seems unable to control his emotions, or stay focused on his on-pitch duties.
