Neymar and Robinho Jr Rejoin Santos Squad for Recoleta

Neymar and Robinho Jr were both called up by Santos for the Copa Sudamericana match against Recoleta after their training-ground conflict. Neymar is expected to start in Santos’ fourth group-stage match, while Robinho Jr could be an option from the bench.

Neymar and Recoleta

The call-up puts the Santos captain back in the match picture after a confrontation in training that led to an accusation that he attacked a younger teammate. The club moved on to the Recoleta match with both players available, and the roster decision is the clearest sign that the dispute has not kept either forward out of the squad.

UOL reported that Neymar admitted his mistake internally after attacking Robinho Jr. That admission came after the training conflict, before Santos named both players for the trip into the fourth match of the group stage.

Marcelo Teixeira Opens Inquiry

Robinho Jr’s representatives filed an extrajudicial notice after the incident, and Santos president Marcelo Teixeira opened an investigation into what happened. The dispute had already moved beyond a private training argument by that point, with the club forced into a formal response.

The Santos dressing room sided with Neymar after the confrontation. Team sources described the mood as one in which what happens in training should be resolved in training, and that support increased after Robinho Jr’s representatives filed the notice.

Santos Squad Decision

For Santos, the immediate decision is straightforward: both players are in the squad against Recoleta. Neymar is expected to start, and Robinho Jr can still come off the bench if he is needed.

That leaves the club with a match-day selection that reflects both its competitive needs and the fallout from the week’s internal dispute. The training incident still sits over the team, but the roster choice shows Santos has moved into the next stage of handling it on the field and inside the club.