Oscar Ruggeri has never been one to bite his tongue, as Neymar has now learned this week.
Speaking ahead of Brazil’s semi-final meeting with Peru on Monday night – with the five-time world champions having already beaten them 4-0 in the group stage – Ruggeri aimed some harsh words at Neymar.
“He doesn’t follow any codes on the pitch,” Ruggeri said of Neymar on ESPN. “He was doing tricks at 4-0 against Peru, I’d have hit him with a good kicking.
When you see an opponent is destroyed and the game is dead, you can’t do that. It’s true that he’s different, but he’s not like Leo [Messi].”
Not everyone on the panel agreed with Ruggeri‘s opinion though, with it being pointed out to him that the idea of lashing out mightn’t be the best approach, and that Neymar regularly plays in a more extravagant way that needsn’t be taken as mocking the opponent.
