Neymar attacks Santos groundskeeper after cup exit

Neymar has added to the pressure on struggling Santos by publicly attacking the club’s groundskeeping staff after their Brazilian Cup elimination. The forward criticised the Vila Belmiro surface on Instagram, saying it was in the worst condition he had seen there and blaming holes left after earthworks carried out the day before the match.

Santos drew 0-0 with Palmeiras in the second leg, but the result could not overturn a 3-0 defeat in the first meeting. Neymar was substituted at half-time in tears after feeling discomfort in his thigh. He said the uneven pitch had forced players to work harder when accelerating and stopping, and linked its condition to three first-half injuries. He added that medical examinations would determine the seriousness of his problem.

The exit leaves Santos with the Brazilian league as their main remaining focus, but the club is already in difficulty there. They sit 14th in the 20-team standings, only four points above the relegation places with 14 rounds still to play. The poor campaign has continued despite Neymar’s presence.

Palmeiras responded by praising their own pitch staff, saying their surface is maintained daily and contains no holes. The club also pointed to having recorded the fewest injuries in Brazil’s top division over the past five years, turning Neymar’s criticism into a public jibe at Santos.