Robinho Junior’s Emergence Amidst Controversy and Neymar’s Future at Santos

Robinho Junior, following in his father’s footsteps, has progressed through the youth ranks at Santos and made his senior debut during the 2025-26 season. At just 17 years old, his opportunities have been limited, with appearances in nine league matches and a recent first start against rivals Palmeiras. Although Santos lost that match 2-0, the young forward showcased his technical prowess and involvement in offensive plays until he was substituted in the 65th minute.

Despite the defeat, Santos head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda praised Robinho Junior’s performance. He commented to reporters, “I appreciated his first-half display; however, we struggled for possession in the second half. He performed respectably, especially for his first start. He has the potential to grow. I spoke with him and expressed my belief that he could become a great player. He needs to improve his statistics, assists, and goals, but he is on the right path.”

In contrast, Robinho, the former Santos star, was convicted in 2017 for his involvement in the gang rape of an Albanian woman at a Milan nightclub in 2013, a conviction upheld by the Italian Court of Cassation in January 2022. Since March 2024, the now 41-year-old has been incarcerated at Tremembe prison, approximately 150 km from São Paulo. He maintains his innocence, and his legal representatives have filed for his release; however, a recent vote in Brazil upheld his incarceration with a 10-1 ruling. Additionally, a vote last November confirmed the transfer of Robinho’s sentence from Italy to Brazil.

Justice Luiz Fux commented to CNN Brasil on the matter, stating, “A declaration of opposition is only permissible when ambiguity, obscurity, contradiction, or omission exists in the ruling, as outlined in article 619 of the CPP. The defense is unreasonable. The Supreme Court’s plenary, by majority, rejected the principle of non-retroactivity in this specific case, deeming it inapplicable.”

Meanwhile, Neymar, who returned to Santos in January, faces uncertainty regarding his contract as it approaches expiration. The club remains hesitant about extending his deal due to his struggles with fitness and form throughout the year. Santos President Teixeira remarked on Neymar’s renewal: “The Neymar project isn’t for six months or a year; it focuses on the 2026 World Cup. Santos was aware of the commitment to Neymar and the significant investment made. We continuously evaluate the situation together. The context has changed since his arrival, and the financial aspects will be reviewed until the year’s end. Neymar is not preoccupied with finances, and Santos has its limits. The agreement for Neymar’s continuity will depend on mutual understanding and trust between him and the club. I am optimistic that we will address this matter appropriately.”

Brazil’s national coach, Carlo Ancelotti, also expressed concerns regarding Neymar’s fitness, suggesting that the player may need to adapt to a more central role as he can no longer maintain the demands of a winger.