Neymar still Brazil’s ‘main player’ despite criticism – Rodrygo

Real Madrid ahead Rodrygo has defended his worldwide teammate Neymar sustaining the Al Hilal star is still Brazil’s “main player.”

Neymar was hit by a bag of popcorn thrown from the stands by supporters after Thursday’s 1-1 house draw with Venezuela, an incident that Brazil coach Fernando Diniz condemned.

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Brazil followers had been pissed off with the end result and Neymar — the nation’s talisman for thus lengthy — bore the brunt of that criticism.

“It doesn’t change anything if he [Neymar] is 31 or not, he continues with the same quality as always,” Rodrygo mentioned.

“He remains our main player. Of course, when we lose or draw a game, the responsibility will be greater on him but when we win, it becomes clear that he is our best player and we depend a lot on him.”

Against Venezuela, Neymar arrange Gabriel Magalhães for Brazil’s purpose however had a recreation-excessive 18 misplaced passes and missed a number of possibilities.

Rodrygo, 22, had nothing however reward for Neymar, who final month overtook Pele to grow to be Brazil’s all-time males’s prime scorer with 79 targets in 125 worldwide appearances.

“He is very important on the field and off the field too,” Rodrygo mentioned of the previous PSG and Barcelona ahead.

“As much as they always say bad things about him, people who live closely with him know that he is totally different from the image that some people have of him.

“And as a result of I’ve him as an idol, I’m typically unhappy to see sure feedback, to listen to the issues individuals say as a result of he helps me lots.

“He is always talking to me. Sometimes I’m at my club, he’s there in [Saudi] Arabia and he sends me a message, he says something positive to me. So that off-the-field [advice] influences us a lot and helps us a lot on the pitch.”

Neymar, in the meantime, understands the Brazil followers’ frustrations however was upset by Thursday’s popcorn incident.

“It’s sad, obviously it’s very sad,” Neymar mentioned. “I condemn that kind of attitude, you don’t have to do it, it’s very bad for football and for human beings. I don’t come here on vacation, much less to go for a walk, I came to do what I love most, which is to play football and defend my country.

“Obviously, we’re there doing our greatest, giving our greatest, and infrequently the end result does not come, and it’s not what the followers anticipate.”

Thursday’s end result left Brazil second of their 10-crew South American qualifying group with seven factors from three video games, two factors adrift of World Cup holders Argentina.

Neymar and Brazil are again in motion on Tuesday’s in one other World Cup qualifier in opposition to Uruguay in Montevideo.