Overview
- Neymar was left out of Santos’s travelling squad and was photographed competing at the Brazilian Series of Poker in São Paulo on Tuesday while the club played a Copa Sudamericana first‑leg tie in Venezuela.
- Santos coach Cuca says the decision to keep Neymar in Brazil was part of a managed fitness plan as the forward rebuilds after the World Cup and will be available for the upcoming match against Chapecoense.
- The player posted a video from the club training centre saying he trained that morning, attended the poker event on an official day off, and told critics to “mind your own business.”
- Santos won the Copa Sudamericana tie 4-1 without Neymar, a result that eased immediate pressure on the team and reduced the short‑term sporting impact of his absence.
- The episode highlights tensions over elite players’ off‑field visibility and workload management as Neymar, who retired from international football after the World Cup, prepares to rejoin Santos during a congested run of fixtures with his contract running until December 2026.