Former Teammate Criticizes Neymar for Disrupting Santos Tactical System During Highly Anticipated Return to Brazil

A former teammate claims Neymar’s "young" playstyle is ruining the Santos tactical plan, creating defensive gaps and confusing his Brazilian teammates.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 25, 2026, 9:33 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Goal

Clash Between Individual Brilliance and Team Structure

Neymar’s return to his boyhood club, Santos, has encountered significant criticism regarding the star's impact on the collective performance of the team. A former teammate has publicly stated that the forward is currently "messing up" the tactical plan carefully constructed by the coaching staff. According to the critique, while Neymar's technical ability remains world-class, his tendency to ignore positional instructions in favor of a free-roaming role has left the rest of the midfield struggling to compensate for the space he vacates.

Perception of Age and Playstyle Adaptability

The core of the accusation lies in Neymar’s perceived refusal to adapt his game to his current physical reality and the needs of a modern defensive block. According to his former Brazil teammate, Neymar still "thinks he is young," attempting to replicate the high-energy, individualistic dribbling style that defined his early career. This lack of evolution is seen as a burden for a Santos side that relies on a rigid tactical framework to remain competitive, leading to concerns that the presence of the icon is becoming a strategic liability.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and Midfield Imbalance

Tactical observers have noted that when Neymar drifts across the pitch without defensive accountability, it creates a "domino effect" of errors for his teammates. According to the analysis provided by his critics, the Santos midfielders are forced to cover excessive ground to mask the gaps left by the forward, leading to premature fatigue and late-game defensive collapses. This imbalance has sparked a debate within the Brazilian football community about whether the marketing value of having a global superstar outweighs the operational difficulty of integrating him into a disciplined unit.