Santos and Brazil legend Pelé has criticised his side’s current star Neymar for a perceived lack of concentration on football matters, with off-pitch distractions seen to be taking up too much of his time.
Neymar, 21, has a high public profile in his homeland and earns a remarkable salary at his current club, largely thanks to a multitude of deals with potential sponsors.
Those deals, though, require the star to give up time to promote the brands who are financing his stay in Brazil, while he also appears in soap operas and television interviews.
A Copa Libertadores winner with Santos in 1962 and 1963, Pelé believes that the current idol of Brazilian football must focus less on fashion and commercial activities if he is to reach his potential.
“We think that he is the best in the world, but he is more concerned about appearing in the media than playing for the team,” Pele told reporters.
“Neymar has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Right now his major concerns are fashion and his haircut.”
Earlier in the same interview, Pelé advised the young star to avoid interest from England and Germany. Instead, Pelé was happy to recommend Barcelona as the ideal destination for the star.
Source: Daily Mail
