Trouble in paradise as Neymar squares up to Santos supporter after disallowed goal

Neymar’s return to boyhood club Santos has been anything but smooth, and tempers finally boiled over on Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old clashed with a fan in a tense confrontation after his last-minute goal was disallowed in a frustrating 2-1 home defeat to Internacional.

It all started in added time. With Santos trailing 2-0 and desperate for a lifeline, Alvaro Martin Barreal pulled one back in the 91st minute.

Just three minutes later, Neymar thought he had completed the fairytale comeback with a left-footed strike that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

But the joy didn’t last. The referee ruled that the ball had not crossed the line, and boos quickly echoed across Vila Belmiro.

At full-time, Neymar was seen agitated and gesturing toward a fan in the stands who appeared to be criticising him. A teammate eventually had to pull the Brazilian star away as he raised a sarcastic thumbs-up.

Neymar’s homecoming has been far from the dream many expected. Since rejoining Santos, the forward has battled an injury layoff, been sent off for handball, and even tested positive for COVID-19.

With Santos now sitting 17th in the league, deep in relegation danger, the pressure is mounting fast, and the club will be looking to Neymar as one of its leaders capable of dragging them out of the mud.

Fans also hoped Neymar’s presence would lift the club, but tensions seem to be rising instead.