Neymar has fired back at critics who questioned his attendance at a poker tournament while recovering from his post-World Cup break at Santos. The 34-year-old forward attended the BSOP Winter tournament earlier this week during an official day off, a decision that sparked debate among fans and observers monitoring his fitness levels during the pre-season period.
The left winger was unavailable for Santos' Copa Sudamericana clash against Universidad Central in Venezuela because he had only recently returned to full training. Rather than let the scrutiny fade, Neymar took to social media to clarify his position, uploading a video of himself preparing for a gym session. His message was direct: he completed his morning workout before the poker event and remained committed to his fitness programme.
Training Commitment Over Tournament Participation
In a pointed response to his detractors, Neymar stated: "I was here getting ready for my second training session, and I remembered that during my day off, a lot of people were talking about me playing poker. But I worked out in the morning; I didn't go to the match because I had just returned to training." He then challenged critics with a blunt question: "Can I train, or are you going to keep nagging too? Go mind your own business!"
The veteran forward's explanation underscores a common tension in modern football: balancing recovery protocols with personal freedom during scheduled rest days. Neymar has now completed his recovery programme under manager Cuca and is available for selection. Santos currently sit in 15th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro with 21 points from 19 matches, making upcoming fixtures critical for their league position.
Neymar is in line to make his first appearance since the international break when Santos face Chapecoense at the Vila Belmiro this weekend, offering the forward an immediate opportunity to demonstrate his fitness and silence remaining doubters about his commitment to the club's campaign.
