In recent times, Brazil’s prime flight has attracted main worldwide stars, elevating the league’s international profile. Among the many most notable are Neymar Jr., who returned to Santos following a disappointing stint with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Memphis Depay, who joined Corinthians from Atletico Madrid.
However these stars haven’t simply introduced expertise and expertise to the league — they’ve additionally raised expectations concerning the skilled requirements essential to assist high-level soccer in Brazil. And on that entrance, each forwards voiced pointed criticism this week.
“Synthetic grass kills the sport,” Memphis Depay wrote on his official X account. “Brazil once you going to take heed to the gamers?” The put up rapidly gained traction, racking up over 45,000 likes and 4,600 reposts in simply over 24 hours.
The all-time main scorer for the Netherlands nationwide group wasn’t the one one to talk up. Neymar jumped into the dialog, replying on to the put up with a brief however clear assertion: “I agree.” That response alone acquired over 11,000 likes.
Common view of Allianz Parque. Palmeiras had been among the many first golf equipment in Brazil to put in synthetic turf at their residence stadium.
It’s not the primary time Neymar has known as out Brazil’s pitches
Neymar performed his first match in his new stint with Santos on February 5 of this 12 months, and it took lower than two weeks for him to publicly specific frustration with the standard of a number of pitches in Brazil.
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“It’s in regards to the route Brazilian soccer is heading. It’s absurd that we’ve to speak about artificial turf in our stadiums,” Neymar mentioned in a joint assertion alongside different Serie A stars like Thiago Silva and Philippe Coutinho. “Objectively, with the dimensions and international stature of our soccer, that shouldn’t even be an possibility.” The message was accompanied by a picture that learn: “Soccer is pure, not artificial.”
The rise of artificial turf in Brazil
The shift from pure grass to artificial turf has been gaining momentum in Brazil over the previous few years. One of many first golf equipment to make the change was Palmeiras, which put in synthetic turf at Allianz Parque in 2020 — and has saved it ever since.
Different golf equipment have adopted swimsuit. Botafogo’s Estadio Nilton Santos additionally now makes use of artificial grass, as does Athletico Paranaense’s Area da Baixada. Late final 12 months, Atletico Mineiro introduced plans to renovate Area MRV, together with a change to synthetic turf.
