Related News
Neymar sorry for Santos rants
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IMPETUOUS Santos prodigy Neymar has apologized for acts of indiscipline that have marred the meteoric rise to fame he has enjoyed in just a few months, which includes being courted by Chelsea and playing for Brazil.
The gifted 18-year-old forward, who turned down a 20 million euro move to Chelsea and made his Brazil debut in August, had been in danger of spoiling his image as a smiling, carefree youngster brimming with talent on the pitch and relaxed off it.
Last Sunday, he sparked a free-for-all at the end of Santos' 1-2 away loss to Ceara after berating a rival defender for his rough marking. Police had to separate the players.
He also chastised captain Edu Dracena and coach Dorival Junior after Edu chose another player to take a penalty in Santos' 4-2 home win over Atletico Goianiense on Wednesday.
Fined by Santos and criticized publicly by his teammates after his heated exchange with Edu and Dorival, he made an emotional statement on Thursday to try to erase the bad impression.
"I'm here to say more than sorry and (I expect) no pardon. I got home and saw what I'd done," Neymar told reporters while holding back tears. "I acted wrongly, I left even my father and mother shocked ... I'm ashamed of what happened.
"I say sorry to Dorival, sorry to Edu, who is the team captain, and to my teammates. I apologize to ... kids who look up to Neymar. Forgive me for what I did."
Possibly a mere coincidence, the behavior of one of Brazilian soccer's biggest jewels began after he turned Chelsea down to sign a new five-year contract with Santos.
Brilliant trio
In the first half of the year, he shared the limelight with the on-loan Robinho and fellow youngster Paulo Henrique Ganso as part of a brilliant trio that inspired Santos to the Paulista (Sao Paulo) state championship and the Copa Brasil.
Now, Robinho has left for AC Milan and Ganso is out until next year through injury.
Santos said it would help Neymar in whatever way it could but at the same time expected a professional attitude from him. "The club will demand deep changes in his behavior on and off the field, with his colleagues and opponents and will support the player so this moment of difficulty can be overcome," it said in a statement.
Seen as a key component for the future of the Brazil side that will host the 2014 World Cup, Neymar's behavior has been closely watched by national team coach Mano Menezes, who expressed his concern.
"He needs to know how to behave as a stand-out player in Brazilian football and later out there in world football," Menezes told TV Globo. "If we allow these (things) to happen with such frequency in his club, in no time it will get transferred to the Brazil team."
Atletico Goianiense coach Rene Simoes heard Neymar offending Junior and said he was appalled.
"Very few times I've seen someone behaving like this in sports," said Simoes, a former coach of Costa Rica and Jamaica. "It's time someone tries to educate this kid, we are creating a monster in Brazilian football. Someone has to educate him for the good of Brazilian football."
The gifted 18-year-old forward, who turned down a 20 million euro move to Chelsea and made his Brazil debut in August, had been in danger of spoiling his image as a smiling, carefree youngster brimming with talent on the pitch and relaxed off it.
Last Sunday, he sparked a free-for-all at the end of Santos' 1-2 away loss to Ceara after berating a rival defender for his rough marking. Police had to separate the players.
He also chastised captain Edu Dracena and coach Dorival Junior after Edu chose another player to take a penalty in Santos' 4-2 home win over Atletico Goianiense on Wednesday.
Fined by Santos and criticized publicly by his teammates after his heated exchange with Edu and Dorival, he made an emotional statement on Thursday to try to erase the bad impression.
"I'm here to say more than sorry and (I expect) no pardon. I got home and saw what I'd done," Neymar told reporters while holding back tears. "I acted wrongly, I left even my father and mother shocked ... I'm ashamed of what happened.
"I say sorry to Dorival, sorry to Edu, who is the team captain, and to my teammates. I apologize to ... kids who look up to Neymar. Forgive me for what I did."
Possibly a mere coincidence, the behavior of one of Brazilian soccer's biggest jewels began after he turned Chelsea down to sign a new five-year contract with Santos.
Brilliant trio
In the first half of the year, he shared the limelight with the on-loan Robinho and fellow youngster Paulo Henrique Ganso as part of a brilliant trio that inspired Santos to the Paulista (Sao Paulo) state championship and the Copa Brasil.
Now, Robinho has left for AC Milan and Ganso is out until next year through injury.
Santos said it would help Neymar in whatever way it could but at the same time expected a professional attitude from him. "The club will demand deep changes in his behavior on and off the field, with his colleagues and opponents and will support the player so this moment of difficulty can be overcome," it said in a statement.
Seen as a key component for the future of the Brazil side that will host the 2014 World Cup, Neymar's behavior has been closely watched by national team coach Mano Menezes, who expressed his concern.
"He needs to know how to behave as a stand-out player in Brazilian football and later out there in world football," Menezes told TV Globo. "If we allow these (things) to happen with such frequency in his club, in no time it will get transferred to the Brazil team."
Atletico Goianiense coach Rene Simoes heard Neymar offending Junior and said he was appalled.
"Very few times I've seen someone behaving like this in sports," said Simoes, a former coach of Costa Rica and Jamaica. "It's time someone tries to educate this kid, we are creating a monster in Brazilian football. Someone has to educate him for the good of Brazilian football."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
