Neymar Jr took the choice on his own to skip Pele’s funeral in Brazil in favour of concentrating on his return to club action with Paris Saint-Germain.
At the very end of 2022, the legendary Santos and Selecao player passed away, and tributes to him have poured in from all around the world.
While several well-known Brazilian figures were present for Pele’s wake at Santos’ stadium in Vila Belmiro, there was substantial criticism for the absence of players like Neymar Jr, Ronaldo, and Kaka.
Midfielder Jose Ferreira Neto, a former Brazil international, said: “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.”
- West Ham’s Joint Chairman Passes Away At Age 86
- Pele: Cape Verde To Rename Their National Stadium After The Brazilian Legend
According to Le Parisien, PSG did not necessarily prohibit Neymar Jr from returning to Brazil, as the 30-year-old told his father that he wanted 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 said.
“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 Jr took to social media to explain his absence in a short 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 have followed everything that happened in my 2022, which is coming to an end, I hope you can achieve your goals and dreams, always keeping the faith! Happy New Year 2023 to all of you. May God bless you and protect you. A huge kiss!”
