Neymar found himself back in the center of criticism, and not just because of Santos‘ 3-2 loss to Fluminense in the Brasileirao this Sunday. The #10 has been the talk of the town after a gesture as he left Vila Belmiro; although he clarified that it was a misunderstanding, he hasn't entirely convinced a former Brazilian star.
Zé Elias weighed in on the controversy surrounding Neymar and the fact that he covered his ears at the end of the match, strongly criticizing his explanation.
Zé Elias's Criticism of Neymar
After the match, cameras caught the 34-year-old star putting his fingers to his ears as he headed toward the locker room. This was interpreted by some as a sign that he wasn't listening to the criticism from the home stands, but Neymar himself came out to clarify on his official Instagram account, though clearly annoyed by the speculation:
"The day has come when I have to explain scratching my ear!" Ney complained. "Honestly, they're being too harsh and crossing the line… It's very sad to have to live with this! No human being can put up with it,” he added.
Despite his explanations and annoyance, one person who didn't seem to buy his story was Ze Elias, a former Brazilian midfielder, who harshly criticized him:
"We clearly understood what happened there. People know what it is. No one here is stupid. Everyone knows what happened,” Elias began (via Tribuna.com).
"It's further proof of-I think, right? And I'll say it again-the attitude of a 16-year-old boy, 15 or 16 years old, who lacks the capacity and understanding to know who he is. Because if he knew and understood who he is and what he represents, he wouldn't behave that way. And always, he's always the victim; it's always the people who are picking on him; he's always right and everyone else is wrong-the whole world is wrong,” he added.
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The controversy comes just five days after Neymar's confrontation with Santos fans following the 1-1 draw against Deportivo Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday. In that context, the player defended himself by pointing out that the situation had gone beyond the sporting realm: “I understand the fans who criticize our play, but when it gets personal and they attack me in a different way, I can't accept it.”
Meanwhile, "Peixe" is struggling to find stability in the various competitions it is competing in this season. Santos will return to action on Wednesday, April 22, against Coritiba in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil at 6:30 PM ET. On Saturday, April 24, they will face Bahia at 5:30 PM ET in the Brasileirão, while on the 28th they will play San Lorenzo in the Copa Sudamericana at 6:00 PM ET.
