Neymar said he will be present for Remo x Santos on Tuesday, removing the uncertainty around his status for the decisive Copa do Brasil round-of-16 second leg.
The Santos forward said he is “100%” available and expects to join the club’s delegation in Pará after attending the 6º leilão beneficente do Instituto Neymar Jr. The match is set for Tuesday, August 4, at Mangueirão at 21h30 (de Brasília).
What is at stake
Santos and Remo drew 0-0 on Saturday at Vila Belmiro in the first leg, so the return match will decide who moves on. In the Copa do Brasil round of 16, the aggregate winner advances, and if the teams finish level again, the tie goes to penalties.
That makes Neymar’s availability especially important for Santos. Even with the first-leg draw keeping the tie open, the club is now set to have its biggest star for the most important game of the round.
What Neymar said
Neymar said he expects to help Santos as best he can and be present for the win. He also addressed speculation about his role, saying reports had already suggested he would be on the bench before he had even confirmed anything himself.
He also spoke about his broader situation at Santos, saying he has a contract through December and plans to honor it. Beyond that, he said he has not decided whether he will stay, leave or stop playing after that point. For now, he said he feels physically well and is focused on the next match.
His message to the press
Neymar also criticized the way parts of the press handle player news, saying false reports can hurt players and people around them. He asked reporters and others to be more careful before posting stories that are not true, adding that while his own mentality is strong, not every player handles that kind of pressure the same way.
For Santos, the main update is simple: Neymar says he will be there on Tuesday. In a knockout tie that is still level after the first leg, that is a meaningful boost.
