Santos head coach Cuca has admitted he is uncertain whether Neymar will feature in Wednesday's Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg against Palmeiras due to the synthetic pitch at Nubank Parque. The Brazil international is an outspoken critic of artificial surfaces, leaving his availability in doubt ahead of a crucial cup encounter in Sao Paulo.
The long-standing rivalry between Neymar and Thiago Mendes reached boiling point on Sunday as the Vasco da Gama midfielder pointedly ignored the Santos superstar during the pre-match handshakes. The frosty exchange at São Januário sparked immediate reactions across social media, with Neymar’s inner circle weighing in on the latest chapter of a feud that dates back to their time in Ligue 1.