Flaco López struck twice and Andreas Pereira added the other as Palmeiras took a 3-0 lead in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg on Wednesday at Nubank Parque, without the most decorated player on either side kicking a ball.

Neymar, 34, had been in the travelling party but did not make the matchday squad. In a comment on Instagram after the game, the forward went public with his own version of events.

“I was available to play! It was a decision by the coaching staff, due to the sequence of games we have.”

Mattos calls it ‘a matter of strategy’

Santos football executive director Alexandre Mattos moved quickly to close the story down, defending the decision to rest Neymar after three consecutive full matches against Macará, Vasco da Gama and Mirassol.

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“Neymar is 1,000% available for Santos at all times. Always,” Mattos said.

“He is around 33, 34 years old. We have to manage his workload in certain situations. It’s a matter of strategy.”

Mattos also rejected the reading that the artificial pitch at Nubank Parque had made up the club’s mind.

“He is 100% available and would play here with complete peace of mind. He already proved that by playing against Atlético last year.”

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The surface Neymar has never hidden his views on

The turf question has followed the tie all week because Neymar himself has made no secret of what he thinks of it. He has a documented history of ankle problems on artificial surfaces and previously called synthetic grass “absolute s***”.

Head coach Cuca had left the door open right up to matchday. Two days before kick-off, he said he had not yet decided whether Neymar would take part.

“I don’t have an answer to that yet, but tomorrow when we report back, we’ll see how the whole squad is doing.”

Palmeiras in control, Santos rudderless

On the pitch, Palmeiras were in charge from the moment López’s shot from distance slipped under goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão. Pereira turned in the rebound after Marlon Freitas was denied before the break, and López’s second-half header made the tie a formality.

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Santos, without their most decisive attacker and with Gabigol held back until half-time, produced almost nothing going the other way.

Vila Belmiro next, and a contract clock

The second leg is at Vila Belmiro on Wednesday, September 2, with Santos needing to overturn three goals to reach the semi-finals. Neymar’s current deal at his boyhood club runs only until the end of December.

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