After the Selecao’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the veteran centre-back sent tongues wagging when he told members of the media that he was “saddened” after he was “insulted” by Neymar when the 26-year-old reacted angrily towards him following a misplaced pass.
In a recent interview, however, Silva dismissed claims that he and Neymar are not seeing eye to eye, and revealed that his comments after the Costa Rica game were a joke the media wrongly took seriously.
“Some people talk a lot, but I have never had anything against Neymar,” he told Le Parisien.
“It is a joke that I made, and the journalists talked about it badly.”
The Selecao ended up topping group E in Russia, and will now face North American giants Mexico in the competition’s round of 16 on Monday.