September 1 – Brazil has announced its latest national team squad, with Neymar notably absent. Speaking in an interview, the star forward addressed questions about both his club and international football.
On Missing the National Team Call-Up
“I have a slight swelling in my adductor muscle—just a bit of discomfort, nothing serious. That’s why I was able to play today against Fluminense in the Brasileirão. In any case, I wouldn’t have played against Bahia.
“They preferred to let me rest during training so I could recover fully. I believe my exclusion is entirely a technical decision and has nothing to do with my physical condition. That’s the coach’s call, and I respect it. Since I’m not in the squad, the only thing left is to cheer for our national team and hope they deliver a great performance.”
On VAR Controversy (Santos 0–0 Fluminense)
“Once again, right? VAR has interfered with the beauty of football. The line shouldn’t have been drawn there… but in the end, that’s not for me to decide.”
On the Team’s Performance
“We played a solid match, both in the first and second halves. We created chances, but we need to be sharper with the final pass. Those are details we must fix as soon as possible.”
