A couple of weeks ago, Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar Jr. found himself in controversy when the 30-year-old announced he was supporting current Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil will have a second round of elections between Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula. In an interview with the YouTube channel Flow Podcast, Lula was asked about the PSG star supporting his political rival.
Lula mocked Neymar, stating that the 30-year-old decision to support Bolsonaro is motivated by a “reduction” of its debt with the Brazilian tax authorities.
“Neymar has the right to choose whoever he wants as president,” Lula said in the interview. “I think he is afraid that if I win the election, I will know what Bolsonaro forgave him (about) his tax debt income. I think that’s why he’s scared of me.”
Additionally, Lula stated that Bolsonaro put together a deal with Neymar’s father and had the PSG star publicly announce his support to his millions of followers on various social media platforms.
“It’s obvious that Bolsonaro made a deal with (Neymar’s) father. Now he has tax problems in Spain,” Lula added. “It’s a problem (which concerns) the tax collection agency, not mine.”
Despite Neymar advocating support for Bolsonaro, the Brazilian footballer didn’t vote in the first round of elections for who will become the next president of the South American nation.
Neymar reportedly forgot to transfer his elector title to Paris, as the PSG forward’s polling station is still in São Paulo. No word yet on whether the footballer has made any changes that allow him to vote in the second round.
