A report from The Wall Street Journal shed light on why Nike and Neymar Jr. parted ways last summer after the 29-year-old reportedly failed to cooperate in good faith investigation of the alleged incident with a Nike employee.
The Journal shared details of the reported incident in 2016. The unnamed alleged victim reportedly helped coordinate logistics with Neymar’s team for a Jordan Brand event promoting a new collaboration.
What reportedly took place next involved Neymar forcing the alleged victim into performing oral sex when the two were left alone. The employee would file a complaint in 2018, and Nike would open an investigation a year later.
Nike did not resolve whether an assault occurred, so it explains why they didn’t offer a public statement over the matter. Neymar has denied these accusations, and the PSG forward took to Instagram, where he defended himself from this report.
“Since the age of 13, when I signed my first contract, I have always been warned: don’t talk about your contracts! The contracts are confidential. To contradict this rule and claim that Nike terminated my contract because I did not contribute in good faith to an investigation is absurd; it is a lie. In 2017, I went to the United States again for an advertising campaign with the same people. They didn’t tell me anything; nothing changed!” Neymar wrote.
“In 2017, 2018, 2019, we took trips, campaigns, countless recording sessions, and I wasn’t told anything. Such a serious matter, and they did nothing. Who are the real leaders? I was not given the opportunity to defend myself. I did not have the opportunity to find out who the offended person was. I don’t even know her. I never had a relationship. I didn’t even have the chance to speak, to know the real reasons for this pain. I am firmly and strongly convinced that time will provide the real answers.”
Neymar now finds himself with German sportswear company Puma after the partnership with Nike ended last summer.
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.
