Neymar pays tribute to outgoing Brazil boss Tite

Neymar has paid tribute to former Brazil boss Tite, telling him he is ‘one of the best’ coaches he will ever have.

Tite quit following Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final exit to Croatia, saying he felt his ‘cycle’ in charge was over.

That news probably wasn’t a surprise, but it appears to have still come as a disappointment to Neymar. The Paris Saint-Germain star says he was initially unsure of Tite due to their encounters in Brazilian domestic football, but he has come to ‘appreciate’ him now.

“Before we met in person, we played against each other many times and I thought you were very annoying! Because you put together a team to mark me, you did everything to beat me,” Neymar wrote on Instagram in an open letter to Tite.

“I knew you as a coach and knew that you were very good, but as a person you are great! You know who I am and that’s what matters to me.

“I want to thank you openly for everything, all the teachings that you have given us – there were so many. You will always be one of the best coaches I’ve ever had or will ever have.”

Neymar has also refused to rule out following Tite in quitting Brazil following their World Cup heartbreak, although he says he will take time to consider his future carefully.

“Honestly, I do not know,” the 30-year-old said when asked if he would be continuing his international career. “I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I’m not thinking straight.

“To say that this is the end would be rushing myself, but I don’t guarantee anything either. Let’s see what happens going forward. I want to take this time to think about it, think about what I want for myself. I will not close the door to playing with Brazil, nor do I say 100% that I’ll come back.”