Neymar receives a shock from his own teammates at Santos

Neymar looked utterly shocked when his Santos teammates seemingly disregarded him in an unusual play on the field.

Neymar was left in utter disbelief during Santos’ 2-3 defeat to Flamengo, as his teammates appeared to completely ignore his instructions in a bizarre incident in the second half, highlighting the chaos of a forgettable season at Vila Belmiro.

The rare incident happened in the 66th minute at Maracana Stadium. With Santos trailing 0-2, Neymar signaled for the team to abandon ineffective long balls and instead build play with short passes from the back. However, when his teammates ignored this, Neymar (normally a forward) dropped back deep into the goal area to take a goal kick himself, intending to start the controlled style of play he desired.

But just seconds later, defender Luan Peres sent a long ball forward, which Flamengo’s defense easily intercepted, immediately losing possession. Neymar stood still, raised his hands to the sky, and shook his head in frustration, an image that sparked discussion among fans.

This moment clearly reflects the disconnect between Neymar and his teammates during Santos’ turbulent season. Having developed at this club and thrived under possession-based philosophies at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the current tactical disunity is unacceptable. The clip quickly spread on social media, with many calling it a “quintessential Neymar moment,” raising doubts about Santos’ spirit and unity.

Near the end, with the team down 0-3 in the 85th minute, coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda decided to substitute Neymar for Argentine midfielder Benjamin Rollheiser, which angered the 33-year-old star. Before leaving the pitch, Neymar confronted the bench and said: “Are you seriously taking me off?”, then walked straight to the locker room without waiting for the final whistle.

Santos later scored two consolation goals but still lost 2-3, remaining in the relegation zone with 33 points from 32 matches, two points behind safety and only six games left to salvage the season. After the match, coach Vojvoda tried to calm the situation, calling Neymar’s reaction “normal for a player who always wants to help the team.” However, this incident further revealed the tension and instability in Santos’ dressing room.

Since returning from Al-Hilal in January, Neymar has scored only 3 goals and provided 6 assists in 15 matches while struggling with multiple injuries. Club president Marcelo Teixeira confirmed ongoing contract renewal talks but admitted financial difficulties might force a split by year-end. He told Globo: “Santos has its limits. Neymar’s project is aimed at World Cup 2026. If we reach an agreement, he will stay.”

The dream of World Cup 2026 remains Neymar’s biggest goal. However, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has yet to call him up, stating the star is “not yet fit enough or at the required intensity.” The Italian strategist commented: “I think Neymar should play centrally rather than on the wing, as wingers nowadays need to contribute more defensively.”

For now, Neymar will focus on fighting relegation with Santos, facing a tough upcoming match against league leaders Palmeiras, where he is expected to lead and inspire his teammates.

Off the pitch, Neymar also faces a crucial decision about his future, as his current contract expires on December 7. Although both sides want to continue working together, financial issues and his World Cup ambitions may make staying difficult.

Meanwhile, sources from the U.S. report that Inter Miami is closely monitoring the situation, ready to bring Neymar to reunite with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. ESPN Brazil revealed that if Santos gets relegated, Neymar will likely leave immediately, opening the possibility of the legendary Barcelona trio reuniting in the U.S.

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