Santos FC utilized social media to deliver a sharp rebuke to Vasco da Gama midfielder Thiago Mendes following a tense encounter during their recent Brazilian Serie A match. The friction began before kickoff when Mendes pointedly refused to shake hands with Neymar. In response to the snub and their decisive 3-0 victory, which lifted the club out of the relegation zone, Santos shared an image of their captain shaking hands with a graphic labeled ‘three points,’ accompanied by the caption: ‘This one I make a point of greeting.’
The animosity between the two players dates back to 2020 during a Ligue 1 fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon. A harsh tackle from Mendes resulted in an ankle sprain for the Brazilian star. Although Mendes issued a public apology, Neymar did not accept it, and the forward’s father publicly criticized the Lyon player for the challenge. Their rivalry reignited earlier this year in the Brazilian Serie A, where Neymar confronted Mendes over another physical challenge and later went to ground holding his face following contact with the Vasco da Gama midfielder.
Following the most recent match, Neymar expressed his frustration with the ongoing tensions during his post-match interview. The loss leaves Vasco da Gama struggling in the standings, remaining second from the bottom with 22 points. While the focus remains on the pitch, speculation continues to surround Neymar’s professional future as his current contract with Santos is set to expire in December.
Regarding his next career move, Neymar has admitted uncertainty about his plans once his deal concludes. While he has been linked to a potential move to Major League Soccer, he has already ended negotiations with FC Cincinnati. Reports indicate that Inter Miami remains interested in the forward, raising the possibility of a reunion with former teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the United States. The report also notes that celebrate win after Thiago Mendes’ handshake snub. The report also notes that when PSG took on Lyon, the issue between Neymar and Mendes started in 2020. The report also notes that but has already walked away from talks with FC Cincinnati, he has been linked with a move to the MLS.
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