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The incident came to light after Santos’s 1-1 draw with Deportivo Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday. Following the match, Neymar addressed the media to admit he had lost his temper during a recent training session.

He described an unnecessary conflict that escalated into a heated argument, leading to his physical reaction toward the teenage footballer, who is the son of former Brazilian football star Robinho.

“If you want an apology in front of the press, here it is. I had already apologized to him and to his family. I crossed the line,” Neymar told reporters after the match, as quoted by The Guardian.

Neymar explained that the situation was a misunderstanding and that he had overreacted in the heat of the moment, as he was not happy being dribbled past by Robinho Jr. during a training session on Sunday.

He noted that he had also apologized to the rest of the squad in the locker room immediately after it happened and emphasized that he views Robinho Jr. as a younger brother and deeply regretted his behavior.

Robinho Jr. confirmed that the slap occurred during a tense training moment but insisted the matter is now behind them.

“Everything is resolved,” he said. “It’s a situation that upset me because he’s been my idol since childhood. I talked about it with my parents and I accept his apology.”

The young winger has since reversed his decision to end his contract with Santos and reaffirmed his commitment to staying with the club until 2031.

The reconciliation was on full display during the team’s latest match. After scoring the opening goal in the 41st minute, Neymar immediately ran to celebrate with Robinho Jr. The two shared a hug and a friendly pat on the face, signaling to fans and the media that the rift had been mended.

Neymar, 34, is still hopeful of a spot in the national squad for the 2026 World Cup. He has not played for Brazil since October 2023. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to name the final squad on May 18.

A former teammate of Neymar at Santos, Robinho, 42, is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil for a rape case in Italy in 2017.