Neymar decided of his personal accord to not attend Pele’s funeral in Brazil, specializing in his return to membership motion with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Selecao and Santos legend handed away on the very finish of 2022 and tributes have flooded in from internationally for him.
Some Brazilian icons attended Pele’s wake at Santos’ stadium in Vila Belmiro, however there was widespread criticism for the likes of Neymar, Ronaldo and Kaka not exhibiting up in individual.
Former Brazil midfielder Jose Ferreira Neto commented: “Pele is a citizen of the world, at the same level as Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi, but Brazilians don’t know how to recognise that. If they were World Cup winners and didn’t come to see Pele, what can I say to them? At the very least it shows a lack of respect.”
Le Parisien report that PSG didn’t essentially ban Neymar from travelling again to Brazil, with Neymar’s father revealing that the 30-year-old requested him to attend on his behalf.
“Today we are here to support the family, we have lost a lot. He inspired so many people and the sport. He has inspired all generations, he has always been a reference,” Neymar Sr mentioned.
“That’s why my son asked me to be here instead. No, Neymar is not coming. We know what it is to lose someone and we have not only lost an athlete, we have lost a citizen, the person Pele, Edson Arantes. It makes us sad.”
Neymar took to social media to clarify his absence in a brief video, stating: “I will spend the end of the year here, training to pursue my goals at PSG, the Champions League and the French championship. In any case, we will pursue them all!
“And to all of you who’ve adopted the whole lot that occurred in my 2022, which is coming to an finish, I hope you may obtain your objectives and goals, at all times maintaining the religion! Happy New Year 2023 to all of you. May God bless you and defend you. An enormous kiss!”
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