Santos director passionately defends under-fire Neymar after fierce criticism

Martin Macdonald

12 Nov 2025 08:30 CST
4 min read

One of Santos' executive directors has been forced into a staunch defence of Neymar after the Brazilian received fierce media criticism following a recent game for the club.

Article continues under the video

During the recent 3-2 loss against Flamengo, Neymar reacted angrily to being substituted despite playing poorly in the match.

Videos circulated of him on social media chastising team-mates on more than one occasion.

He cut a frustrated figure, particularly after he bizarrely ran all the way back to take a goal kick, hoping for Santos to play out from the back, only for a team-mate to lump the ball up the field.

The Brazilian media labelled him "slow" and "a disgrace" following the match. A Globo report claimed that that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar is "no longer a unanimous favourite at Santos" and that antics during the game "irritated teammates and management".

The report states that he "exposed the other players to ridicule on several occasions, without helping the team to react in the match".

O NEYMAR FOI NA ZAGA BUSCAR A BOLA E... DERAM UM CHUTÃO PRA FRENTE! 😳😅 O craque do Santos ficou sem entender nada nessa... #FutebolBrasileiro #BrasileirãoBetano #PósJogo pic.twitter.com/12ZsXWo9PF
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) November 10, 2025

After 32 matches played this season, Santos remain in the relegation zone in the Brazilian Serie A and Neymar has scored just three goals in the 15 matches he has played this campaign.

It does seem like the star does have the support of the Santos hierarchy, however.

Alexandre Mattos, the executive director of football at Santos, posted on Instagram: "Geniuses are misunderstood, it has always been that way in human history. They think ahead of their time, they do things differently, they make a difference… they are insatiable for challenges, for change, for goals that few manage to achieve… they leave legacies, they make history…But they are also human beings, they get things right and wrong, they smile and cry, they have feelings, a heart, they breathe, they live and survive life's blows…You are like that, a genius… those who know you know the human being you are, the heart you have, the humility you exude, the concern you have for everyone, the father and friend you are.

"They try to defeat you, they can't, they try to knock you down, you get up, everything is bigger for you, but you are bigger than everything…Do you know why? Because you have God in your heart… a good aura…My brother, you will never be alone… be sure that I'm here to take life's blows with you… your family is, your friends are, your companions are…You are admired and adored by me and by everyone who knows you, by billions around the world who dream of being like you… you earned this, you deserve this…Difficult moments make men stronger!! I'm always with you!!! Through thick and thin….We are!!!"

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