Vampeta criticizes Neymar following Santos defeat

Former player Vampeta has spoken candidly about Neymar's role at Santos following the team's 3-0 defeat to Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil. The star forward's absence from the squad for the derby sparked widespread discussion.

Vampeta argued that Neymar's influence within the club is significant, suggesting the player essentially dictates his own availability.

Neymar plays when he wants and doesn't play when he doesn't want, travels when he wants and doesn't travel when he doesn't want, forces a card when he wants... Are we going to keep hiding this? It's notorious. Vampeta

Santos manager Cuca took full responsibility for the team's performance, admitting they failed to execute their plan against Palmeiras. Regarding Neymar's absence, the coach clarified that the decision was made exclusively by the technical staff to manage the player's workload.

Cuca explained that while Neymar expressed a desire to play, the staff decided to rest him to avoid injury and ensure he could develop his form naturally. Factors such as workload management and the risk of suspension due to yellow cards also played a role in the decision.