Paris Saint Germain star Neymar has been called out for missing Brazil’s legend Pele’s funeral.
Neymar angered his country after opting to miss the funeral and staying in France to train with his teammates. Currently being the biggest football star in Brazil, many believe the star should have been at the funeral in Santos.
A journalist called out the move saying that it would have meant a lot if the footballer showed up.
“If Neymar wanted to be freed, he came. Neymar could very well have pressured PSG to come here. He has already pressed the club several times to come to parties, why not ask PSG to say goodbye to Pele? I think Neymar, as a Brazilian player, had an obligation to come and see Pele’s coffin to say goodbye to him. It was important for Brazilian football.” said Brasil Urgente presenter Jose Luiz Datena.
Pele died a week ago at the age of 82.
After his passing, Neymar honored him saying that he changed the game a lot.
“Before Pele, ’10’ was just a number. I read this sentence somewhere, at some point in my life. But this beautiful sentence is incomplete. I would say that before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything,” posted Neymar on Instagram.
“He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to blacks and above all he gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will remain. Pele is ETERNAL!”
Neymar’s dad also honoured him saying that he was a true legend.
“Today is to support the family, we have lost a lot. He inspired so many people and the sport, he got us here today. He has inspired all generations, he has always been a reference.
“That’s why my son asked me to be here instead. To support the family. We know what it is to lose someone and we have not only lost an athlete, we have lost a citizen, the person Pele. No, Neymar is not going to come.”