Neymar has returned to the Santos squad only two days after leaving the club’s training centre without permission and publicly denying accusations that he verbally attacked two young teammates.
The 34-year-old trained normally on Monday and was included among the 23 players available for the Copa Sudamericana second leg against Universidad Central of Venezuela.
According to UOL’s report on the squad announcement, Neymar is available to coach Cuca after missing Sunday’s recovery session. Santos hold a 4-1 advantage from the first leg.
Neymar expected to begin on the bench
Neymar is not expected to start at Vila Belmiro.
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Santos can lose by two goals and still qualify for the last 16, allowing Cuca to manage his leading player’s workload before Saturday’s Copa do Brasil meeting with Remo.
The latest Globo Esporte match preview says Neymar is likely to begin among the substitutes despite being included in the full squad.
There is no indication that a new injury is preventing him from starting. The decision is understood to be based on rotation and physical management.
Father attends talks at training ground
Neymar returned to full group training on Monday under the eyes of his father, Neymar da Silva Santos Sr.
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His father also held conversations with Santos president Marcelo Teixeira and members of the club’s board.
The meeting followed a turbulent weekend in which Neymar reportedly spent only a few minutes at the training centre before leaving without authorisation. The other starters remained for recovery work.
Santos have not announced a fine or sporting punishment.
Star denies dressing-room accusations
The controversy began after Santos drew 2-2 with bottom club Chapecoense, despite Neymar scoring both goals.
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Globo Esporte reported that Neymar used an inappropriate tone towards 21-year-old midfielder Gabriel Bontempo and 19-year-old defender João Ananias during and after the match.
Neymar denied targeting the younger players. He said the squad had held a collective discussion because the players were unhappy with the performance.
Bontempo and Ananias also denied being personally insulted, although both acknowledged that there had been a general confrontation within the group.
As reported by talkSPORT in its coverage of Neymar’s response, the forward described the allegations as false and insisted he would not accept stories that misrepresented what happened inside the dressing room.
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Relationship with Santos under pressure
The immediate dispute may have calmed, but the wider relationship remains strained.
A detailed Globo Esporte investigation into the growing tension reported that club officials have concerns about Neymar’s leadership and behaviour, while the player’s representatives are unhappy with the training facilities, the quality of the squad and the lack of protection from the board.
Santos also owe Neymar more than R$90 million in image-rights payments. His current contract runs until the end of 2026, but an extension is reportedly considered unlikely by both sides.
Neymar is therefore available again, but the deeper crisis has not disappeared.
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Tuesday’s match may restore some sporting normality. It is less likely to resolve the uncertainty surrounding his future.
